Saturday, September 26, 2009

Air Chief clarifies, China’s air power superior than India; Army says border is secure

T
he Air Chief Marshal PV Naik on Wednesday admitted that India was no match to China when it came to air power. Interestingly, former Navy chief Suresh Mehta had also, last month, claimed that India is no match to China when it comes to military strength. He, however, chose to downplay the threat from India’s eastern neighbour amid reported violations of the Indian airspace and territory by Chinese troops. The IAF chief also stressed that there was no imminent threat from the Dragon. He also refuted reports of violation of airspace along the Line of Actual Control by the Chinese. The IAF Chief’s remarks came a day after China's Ambassador to India, Zhang Yan met Home Secretary GK Pillai and tried to clarify the picture over the reported border incursions. Indian Air Force chief denied reports of any air incursions in the country. Addressing a news conference in Gandhinagar on Wednesday, Air Marshal PV Naik said there were no air incursions from any side and added that the government was not downplaying Chinese threat. Speaking on country's security, Naik further added that India's present aircraft strength was one-third that of China and the IAF was in the process of acquiring more aircraft. The IAF has taken various initiatives to refurbish the infrastructure in the states bordering China that has included upgrading various landing grounds and runways in the region. The Asian giants have a simmering dispute over their long running border and both still claim vast swathes of each other's territory along their 3,500 kilometres Himalayan border, which has remained largely peaceful since a border war in 1962.

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