China provokes India again as Chinese aircraft flies close to LAC in Ladakh

New Delhi, July 8: A Chinese aircraft came very close to a friction point right on the Line of Actual Control (LAC) in eastern Ladakh in the last week of June. Following this, the Indian Air Force responded swiftly as per standard operating procedures. These reports are emerging after External Affairs Minister Dr. S Jaishankar met Chinese Foreign Minister Wang Yi in Bali on the sidelines of G20 meetings.

 

 

 

According to the reports, it took place at around 4 am on one of the days in the last week of June and after the aircraft was spotted by men on ground and was also picked up by indigenous radars deployed in the border area. Soon after the possible air space violation was detected, the assets of the Indian Air Force got activated as per the standard operating procedures.

 

 

This comes in the backdrop at a time when the Chinese side is holding exercises involving its fighter jets and air defence weaponry including the S-400 air defence system in the areas bordering the Eastern Ladakh sector. Notably, the Chinese have a large number of fighter jets and unmanned aircraft deployed at positions near the Indian territory including the major airfields in Hotan and Gar Gunsa which have been upgraded immensely during the last two years.

 

It was during such wargames on the Chinese side in 2020 when the People's Liberation Army diverted its troops in heavy numbers towards the Indian positions in Eastern Ladakh which led to multiple face-offs and physical fights in the area. The matter was taken up with the Chinese as per the east abolished mechanism and no incident has taken place after that.

 

 

Reports suggest that the particular incident was not a very serious one but such instances should be avoided by the other side as they can lead to possible escalation. It is pertinent to mention that the Chinese aircraft came very close to the areas on the LAC which have seen confrontation between the Indian and Chinese sides during the ongoing military stand-off between the two sides since May 2020.

 

The issue becomes further complicated due to the "creeping forward" policy of the Chinese military to capture territories all along its boundaries with different neighbours.

 

Recently Jaishankar had discussed the border situation with his Chinese counterpart in which he stressed on the complete disengagement from the all the frictions points.