China v India war: Fighter jets unleashed by both sides as border tensions escalate

The stand-off between the two nations continues as two Chinese J-20 stealth fighters have been sighted at the Hotan airbase in the Xinjiang region. It is China’s closest airbase to the disputed Aksai Chin region.

Since June, tensions have escalated in the area after Indian and Chinese military troops clashed in their worst collision in decades.

The border clash took place in the nearby Galwan Valley between Aksai Chin and Ladakh.

The news comes as India has deployed five new Dassault Rafale fighter jets to Ladakh.

The fighter jets had reportedly been practicing night flying in the mountainous terrain in Himachal Pradesh.

But military experts have said China has the advantage when it comes to fighter jets.

They explained how China’s J-20 can evade radar detection and reach supersonic speeds.

Song Zhongping, Hong-Kong based military commentator, said the Chinese stealth fighter could be deployed to work with other People’s Liberation Army aircrafts.

He told the South China Morning Post: “The J-20 could be used with other specialised warplanes for different purposes, and that could better complete the mission.”

READ MORE: China-India border dispute: PLA flexes military muscle with drills

The border clash in June saw at least 20 Indian soldiers die.

The deaths are believed to be the first in 45 years from a border confrontation between the two sides.

China accused Indian troops of crossing the border twice and attacking Chinese personnel.

Both sides said that no shots were fired during the clash.

Indian officials said the fighting was with bare hands, stones and iron rods.

There was no official confirmation of Chinese casualties.

China and India have been arguing for decades over territory in the Ladakh region which is largely uninhabited.

Both nations see the region as strategically important both in terms of the economy and the military.

The confrontation in June came after tensions escalated over a new road India built in Ladakh.

The road angered China into deploying troops near India’s forces in disputed territory.

source: express.co.uk