The IAF chief, speaking at an event organised by the Vivekananda International Foundation, said while the strength of the Chinese army presence in the region is well known, its air force “deployment has been very strong” and “we have taken every action that we are required to take and cater to such situations”.
Underlining that understanding China is “our most important national security challenge” and cautioning against its “possible game plan” and the “deepening and evolving Sino-Pak relationship”, Air Chief Marshal R K S Bhadauria said Tuesday that the Chinese have “fully deployed” their air assets to support troops along the Line of Actual Control in Ladakh.
The Chinese, he said, also “have a large presence in the second tier, and large presence of radars and surface-to-air missiles, and surface-to-surface missiles in the reconnable area”.
Asked about the capabilities of Indian forces to meet such a challenge, Air Chief Marshal Bhadauria said, “Whether we have enough today? We have enough. Otherwise, you would have had a different situation in the north.”
“The way all three forces have activated and deployed, there is no need to worry whether have enough to do our bit to hold the situation and to ensure we do not lose territory or sovereignty. So on that issue, we should not have any doubt.”
He said “we have responded adequately” as far as air power is concerned, and “whatever actions we have taken, some very serious and robust actions, which has had results, and we can see that they have stopped in their tracks and they are continuing to remain there”.
