India revives military landing ground for fighter jets near Chinese border

The Indian Air Force on Wednesday activated a crucial landing ground in the Arunachal Pradesh region of the country despite Chinese objections to the move, according to a report in The News. China refers to the area as South Tibet and claims it as part of China. 

The landing ground is the eight one to have been activated for the operation of fighter jets and transport aircraft in the disputed border territory between the two countries. The eighth one, Vijaynagar Advanced Landing Ground, is situated in Arunachal's Changlang district.

Indian Air Officer Commanding in Chief Eastern Air Command RD Mathur inaugurated the landing ground on Wednesday morning. An official told the media the base would help effective management of the border with Myanmar, as well as facilitating joint operations with the Indian army. 

In early 2009, India had started the restructuring of decades-old landing grounds in the border region with China, but work on the Vijaynagar airfield was delayed due to the unavailability of road connectivity. The airfield is capable of landing C-17 Globemasters as well. 

Earlier in September, Indian and Chinese soldiers were involved in a prolonged confrontation along the disputed border territory between the two countries, reported Indian news publication The Times of India.

According to the report, Indian and Chinese troops clashed just after dawn in the Pangong Tso area of the border, just as India was preparing to conduct a new battlefield tactic in the national war games.

“Indian soldiers were on a patrol when they were confronted by People's Liberation Army soldiers, who strongly objected to their presence in the area. This led to a scuffle between the rival soldiers," a source told TOI.