‘Chinese fighter jets continue to provoke India along the LAC’

iNDICA NEWS BUREAU-

Chinese fighter jets are continuing efforts to provoke Indian forces stationed in eastern Ladakh by flying close to the Line of Actual Control (LAC) on multiple occasions, agencies reported Sunday.

The provocation is reportedly taking place in spite of the issue being raised at the Corps Commander level talks.

Indian Air Force sources said “we will respond to the situation responsibly” and “we are not taking any chances in tackling the threat as well as not letting the matter escalate in any manner.”

According to Indian military sources, the Chinese aircraft have been flying close to the LAC over the past three to four weeks, an effort seen to check Indian defence mechanisms in the region.

Government sources told news agency IANS, “Chinese fighter jets, including J-11, are flying close to the LAC. Cases of violation of the 10 km Confidence Building Measure (CBM) line have been reported in this area in recent days.”

The source added that IAF has moved MiG-29 and Mirage 2000 squadrons to advance bases from where they can respond to Chinese movements within minutes.

“It seems that the People’s Liberation Army (PLA) is tense over the upgrade of IAF infrastructure in the Ladakh region,” the source added.

He said the IAF is responding to these actions in a “calibrated manner” and is also monitoring Chinese flight patterns in the area where they are “flying at both low and high altitudes.”

Meanwhile, India is working to upgrade its military infrastructure in Ladakh after China tried to unilaterally change the status quo on the LAC in the April-May 2020. Another provocation began around June 24-25 when a Chinese fighter jet flew close to a point of friction in eastern Ladakh.

After that, sources said, there were several CBM violations between the two sides on the LAC near Chumar sector and this has been going on since then they asserted, adding that the IAF has been using Rafale fighter jets in the eastern Ladakh region.