China can’t get better of us in eastern Ladakh: IAF chief

NEW DELHI: IAF chief Air Chief Marshal RKS Bhadauria on Monday said Chinese air power can’t get the better of the capabilities of his force in any conflict scenario in eastern Ladakh, asserting India is “very well positioned” to meet any threat from China.

Stressing that the country’s sovereignty and interests will be fiercely protected under all circumstances, Bhadauria also said the Indian Air Force (IAF) is fully prepared to deal with any two-front war.

He said the IAF has made “very strong” deployments in all relevant areas in view of the five-month-long border standoff with China in eastern Ladakh, and it is in a firm position to handle any contingency along the Line of Actual Control (LAC). The Chief of Air Staff, addressing a press conference here on the eve of the Air Force Day, said China has its areas of strength and the IAF has evolved plans and strategies to deal with all scenarios. “Of course we are,” he said replying to a question on whether the IAF was fully ready to deal with any challenge from China. “There is no question of not taking on the threat there (eastern Ladakh). We are very well positioned and there is no question that in any conflict scenario there, China can get the better of us,” Bhadauria said. He said “swift and rapid” deployments were made along the LAC in view of the ground situation, adding Ladakh was one of the areas where IAF’s assets were stationed. Asked if China could use Pakistan air bases, the IAF chief said it would mean a collusive threat and the force was ready to deal with such a scenario.

Bhadauria said the IAF has made very strong deployments in all relevant areas in view of the border standoff