IAF Chief rejects Chinese claim of “normalcy” on LAC

Vishal Thapar Oct 05, 2022

Rejecting the recent Chinese claim that the situation on the Line of Actual Control (LAC) in Eastern Ladakh had normalised after troop disengagement from face-off points in the ongoing border confrontation, Chief of the Indian Air Force (IAF) Air Chief Marshal VR Chaudhari said the benchmark for normalcy would be “return to status quo ante and complete withdrawal of troops” by China from contested areas.

Referring to the September 12 troop disengagement from Patrolling Point 15 in the Gogra-Hot Springs area, Chinese Ambassador to India Sun Weidong asserted recently that “the phase of emergency response since the Galwan Valley incident (in June 2020) has basically come to an end”, and the border situation was “now switching to normalised management and control”.

“The best benchmark for the situation to return to normal in Eastern Ladakh would be to restore status quo ante and complete disengagement at all friction points,” Air Chief Marshal Chaudhari said in disagreement at his annual press conference in New Delhi ahead of Air Force Day, which is on October 8. The IAF is celebrating the 90th year of its raising this year.

The IAF Chief was referring to continuing confrontation in the Depsang Plains and Demchok. Reinforcements of about 50,000 troops from each side are still facing off on the unresolved boundary in Eastern Ladakh. Heavy weapons have been deployed by both sides following Chinese troop movements in May 2020 aimed at changing the status quo on the LAC.

Pointing out that China is rapidly augmenting military infrastructure on its side of the LAC, Air Chief Marshal Chaudhari said the IAF has taken “appropriate non-escalatory air defence measures”. “We have been able to signal our intent and operational readiness through our actions,” he said.

High operational readiness is being maintained with additional deployment of radars and assets. Airspace violations and activities of the People’s Liberation Army-Air Force (PLAAF) is being closely monitored.

Violations by PLAAF are being taken up with China on the Army hotline. The IAF is also represented in military talks at the Corps Commander level. There have been reports of Chinese aircraft violating the 10-km no-fly zone confidence-building measure. The IAF reportedly scrambled fighters following Chinese jets flying over two stand-off sites on multiple occasions this summer.

The IAF has been preparing for all kinds of security challenges, including the “worst-case scenario” of a two-front conflict or an intense and protracted conflict. “Our overall preparation and readiness is a continuous ongoing effort irrespective of any belligerence from China,” the IAF chief said.