China has expanded its military footprint along the India border with the completion of 36 hardened aircraft shelters, new administrative blocks, and an additional apron at its Lhunze airbase in Tibet, just 40 kilometres north of the McMahon Line. The newly fortified site, around 107 kilometres from India&rsquo;s strategic Tawang town, gives Beijing the ability to forward-deploy fighter jets, drones, and attack helicopters, reducing response time in a potential conflict with India.
Former Air Chief Marshal BS Dhanoa called the development &ldquo;a clear signal of preparation for war.&rdquo; He noted that fuel and ammunition are likely already prepositioned in underground tunnels, adding, &ldquo;I had said during the Doklam standoff that the day China starts building hardened shelters in Tibet, they&rsquo;d be preparing for conflict.&rdquo;
Echoing the concern, Air Marshal Anil Khosla said the upgrades at Lhunze represent a &ldquo;serious strategic threat&rdquo; in the backdrop of the 2020 Galwan clashes. &ldquo;The shelters will protect against Indian airstrikes and make it far more difficult to neutralise the base early in a conflict,&rdquo; he explained. Satellite imagery also revealed the presence of CH-4 drones, capable of launching precision missiles from over 16,000 feet,&nbsp; a move experts say &ldquo;narrows India&rsquo;s aerial advantage.&rdquo;
Former Vice Chief of Air Staff SP Dharkar warned that the rapid militarisation across Tibet &ldquo;shrinks India&rsquo;s geographic advantage&rdquo; in air operations. Meanwhile, geo-intelligence expert Damien Symon observed that China&rsquo;s military buildup opposite Tawang &ldquo;reflects Beijing&rsquo;s intent to tighten control and project power across a historically sensitive frontier.&rdquo;
As India awaits the arrival of U.S.-built Sky Guardian drones by 2029, the Indian Air Force continues to monitor Chinese expansion closely. Both nations remain engaged in large-scale military upgrades along the Himalayan belt, a stark reminder that post-Galwan diplomacy has done little to cool tensions at the world&rsquo;s highest frontier.

China Expands Air Power Near India Border

36 new shelters at Lhunze base heighten tensions near Arunachal Pradesh frontier

China Expands Air Power Near India Border

36 new shelters at Lhunze base heighten tensions near Arunachal Pradesh frontier

October 28, 2025 | 15:01 IST