India: IAF Chief Denies Reports of Air Incursions from China

Indian Air Force (IAF) Chief Air Marshal P.V. Naik is denying recent media reports that Chinese aircraft illegally entered Indian air space.

Addressing a news conference in Western Gandhinagar city on Wednesday the 23rd Air Marshal PV Naik said no air space was violated, but added that the government was not downplaying the Chinese threat.

[Air Marshal P.V. Naik, IAF Chief]:
„I do not think so. Not downplaying, there is a strategy in everything on how to tackle things. Either you rush headlong with weapons or play it cool and continue to develop your capabilities. I think this is a strategy which is being followed. But we are not downplaying anything by any means. I can assure you as far as the Air Force is concerned, there are no incursions anywhere.“

Naik says the IAF is in the process of getting more aircraft.

[Air Marshal P.V. Naik, IAF Chief]:
„We have one-third the Chinese numbers… Of course that’s not why we are going in for more aircraft. Not for borders, national security is initially at the borders but you have to guard your entire nation also.“

The IAF has taken various initiatives to refurbish the infrastructure in the states bordering China such as upgrading various landing grounds and runways in the region.

India and China have a simmering dispute over their long running border, which was never demarcated before India’s independence in 1947. Both nations still claim vast swathes of each other’s territory along their 2,100 mile Himalayan border.

(NTDTV)