Photos of China’s J-10 and J-11 fighter jets at an airfield in western China were posted by the Chinese Communist Party’s Global Times on Tuesday. The newspaper, published under the auspices of the official state mouthpiece People’s Daily, also quoted a Chinese military expert as saying the increased aerial activity was necessary to counter a military threat from India.
China is upgrading its Western Theater Command in order to confront any threat from India, Song Zhongping, a Chinese military expert and TV commentator, told Global Times.
The photos were originally released on Friday by the People’s Liberation Army (PLA) during the Spring Festival holiday. Some of the photos published on the PLA website also show J-10 and J-11 fighters conducting air combat training exercises in the high-altitude plateau in western China — which is one of the closest points to the Indo-Chinese border. The command sector is said to be mainly responsible for mountain warfare at China’s border area with India.
Song told the newspaper that it’s significant for China to strengthen its control of airspace over the mountainous region.
“Strengthening the 3.5-generation fighter jets or even stationing more advanced fighters in the Western Theatre Command has been urgent for the PLA,” Song said, adding that such fighter upgrades are usually conducted first in south and east theatre commands.
Considering that India possesses 3rd-generation fighter jets, China’s stationing of its 3.5-generation jets would be able to deal with any current threat from India, Song reportedly said. “With India importing new jets, China will continue strengthening its fighter jets in the Western Theatre Command,” Song added.
Satellite photos show build-up
China and India were involved in a tense border stand-off at Doklam last year. Doklam is situated at a tri-junction area between India, China and Bhutan.
Stratfor, a US geopolitical risk consultant, said in a recent analysis of satellite photos of two Chinese and two Indian airbases in the area that a “strategic build-up has accelerated” since the crisis was resolved through negotiations on August 17 last year. Stratfor said the build-up was particularly noticeable on the Chinese side.
The analysis says satellite images of western China show a significant deployment of fighters and a noticeable increase in helicopters at two nearby bases. China is also said to have made airfield upgrades at Shigatse Peace Airport, which is 225km from Doklam. It includes construction of a new runway in mid-December.
Indians have been blabbing and mouthing off endlessly in the press and now they are about get a good pounding. They should never have instigated China to begin with by going into territory that they themselves don’t even have claims.
LOL! Knock off trash. China, you are playing with everyone… untll someone is tired of it and kicks your ass. Better slow your roll.
You are right. India does not grab islands owned by some other countries unlike China, they literally grabbing island territories and build their military basis. China is so unfair.
These devil spawned has been trying to destroy China since 14th century but China is still here and growing. They came in pack and fractured China during late 19th century and goes all up to early 20th but thanks to Chairman Mao, China has been fighting back stronger ever since
Cw LiaNgz, you mean; thanks to the Allied Forces (primarily the United States) the Axis (Japan and Russia) were kicked out of mainland China? They kicked your little asses. Your nation’s military is a joke. Your Army only knows how to march pretty and spout the communist line… fighting is a different story. As far as an Air Force and Navy; your total numbers are pathetic and your equipment is all knock-off junk… coupled with the fact the you don’t even have officers to integrate the varrious branches of your military. Your nation is still so backwards, Japan could (again) kick your ass by herself. Keep beating your puny chests like you’re a beast and you will find yourselves squaring off with the United States, Australia, India, and Japan… in addition to all the tiny nations you’ve been picking on for so long. You all better sit back and shut up; because we’re all getting sick of listening to you little bitches.
If China is so great; why is your bitch ass in London? Go back and lick the boots of your CCP masters.
China creates issues with everyone she shares a border with. You fools believe you can make absurd claims and force the rest of the world to believe them. No one believes you. No one likes you. It is only a matter of time; before we will all smash you pretentious fools back into the stone age.
Jay Foust, your my man dude.
Chinese claims are biased Chinese version of history and does not accomodate any other countries version. Chinese belief is what is mine is mine and what is other countries is disputed. China needs to stop it’s bullying tactics and be reasonable to neighbors.
You are biased and sick personality..stay there
you are stating based on Chinese version, China continues to eneter in other countries, call other countries land as disputed and sitting pretty on occupied Askai Chin and Tibet. Please free up tibet it was never chinese.
What if China is to throw out 30% American bonds that they bought when they ask for help from China and demand back it’s equal value, will the whole world panic? Americans practice double standards and is always jealous of China. It’s time to make them cry for help from their own allies.
Gus Sinha , India needs to borrow a page from the Chinese book. Chinese ruling class cares for their population than Indian ruling class.
Jay Foust, Even the United States with it’s military might will find it very difficult to win a military confrontation with China in Asia. So be careful what you say. You might just be living in the 20th century.
TK TK, not even remotely true. For starters, the United States doesn’t need to so anything except annihilate the Chinese Navy and Air Force. After that one week… and I say week, because many Chinese forces will hide; American can step out of the fray and let several other nations smash the Chinese Army. The best part about it all, is once China surrenders, which they will ultimately do… as they always have; we will charge war reparations and erase a nice size chunk of our national debt. So in reality, the war won’t cost the United States anything and will eliminate our largest competition. Anyway, your nation is bringing this fate to its own doorstep. No one is forcing you to encroach upon other’s sovereign territories; in fact, everyone is asking your people to act civililzed. Should you chose to continue in this folly, you will be dealt with.
TK TK, I just looked at your profile. Sorry for assuming you are Chinese. I am not sure how much you know about modern day China; however, as China is making inroads to African nations; it would behoove you to research them. Viewing China Uncensored on YouTube is a good start. If you believe European powers were odious, you have not seen anything. Start out with researching how the Chinese treat their own citizens, the Falun Gong… imprisonment and torture, until they have a request for a matching organ…. and they are harvested and the corpse discarded.