While China is raising objections over construction of a rural road in Ladakh region, it has now been revealed that the Chinese army is simultaneously building and repairing 27 airstrops in the Tibet region, says a report by R&AW (Research and Analysis Wing), India's premier intelligence agency, reports Times of India.
The RAW report, according to the newspaper, states that these airstrips would be of use for China only in the case of a conflict with India as the latter is the only potential adversary for China in the region.
“Many of these 27 military airstrips have been newly built. Others which have been expanded too are seeing increased Chinese activities. Like the intermediate range missiles stationed in the Delingha region, these airfields can be of strategic use for China only against India,'' said a senior official.
According to the official, some airfields which are being upgraded are Kashgar, Yarkand and Tashkurgan in the western sector, Tingri and Shigatse in the middle sector and Doonshon, Kangbo, Chamdo and Phari Dzong in the eastern sector.
The expansion of airfields follows the deployment of intermediate range missiles like DF-4 in the Delingha region. The medium-range ballistic missiles can hit targets that are 3,000 km away. China has also built several launch pads for nuclear-tipped ballistic missiles in the region.
According to military experts, these airbases will give China an edge in the event of a war as they would allow sustained combat operations by PLA fighters over all of northern India and strike key cities.
Even as the shadow-boxing with China continues all along the LAC, two top Chinese military delegations are headed for India in early-December for bolstering bilateral confidencebuilding measures.
Defence ministry sources said the first delegation will be headed by the 2.5-million PLA's deputy chief, Gen Gezen-Feng, who will hold talks with defence minister A K Antony, the three service chiefs and defence secretary.
Government on Tuesday said there was no need to be 'unnecessarily' worried as India was adequately strengthening itself.
"I don't think we need to be unnecessarily alarmed. As a regional power, they (China) will strengthen their infrastructure. They will procure their arms and we are doing what we have to do for strengthening our line," said Minister of State for Defence M M Pallam Raju.
The minister was asked to respond to reports claiming that China was building 27 airstrips along the LAC. There was no need to be 'unnecessarily worried' about what other countries are doing, Raju said, adding "Our programmes are going smoothly and we are doing adequately to strengthen ourselves."
On the stopping of work on a link road in Ladakh region after objections by the Chinese army, the minister said, "I think some of these things happen when there is a difference of perception. I guess that must be the reason."
Work on the road being was being built under the centrally-sponsored National Rural Employment Guarantee Scheme. The road was expected to connect two villages in Demchok in South-Eastern Ladakh, but work was stopped during the last week of October.
