India Starts Combat Air Patrols over Arunachal amid China Tension

The Indian Air Force has launched active combat patrols over Arunachal Pradesh after detecting "enhanced Chinese air activity", sources said on Tuesday.

Fighter jets had to be scrambled "two-three times" in recent weeks to thwart China, they revealed, reports NDTV.

Top sources said the Air Force had launched air patrols after spotting Chinese jets flying close to the Line of Actual Control (LAC) in Arunachal Pradesh. On Monday it was also reported that Indian and Chinese troops clashed at the LAC on December 9 before disengaging.

Amid massive opposition protests in parliament, Defence Minister Rajnath Singh said in the clashes last week at Tawang in Arunachal Pradesh, there was "hatha paayi (physical fight)" between the two sides but Indian soldiers "forced the Chinese soldiers to go back to their posts".

"None of our soldiers died or were seriously injured," said the Defence Minister in his brief statement, which was followed by an opposition walkout.

Before his statement in parliament, Rajnath Singh had separate meetings with all three military chiefs and with Prime Minister Narendra Modi to discuss the government's response.

The latest clashes took place on December 9 at Tawang in Arunachal Pradesh. According to sources, Chinese troops crossed the LAC, and Indian soldiers pushed back in a "firm and resolute manner".

There were "minor injuries to a few personnel from both sides" and the two sides "immediately disengaged from the area", the sources said.

Such confrontations had been taking place since 2006 because of "differing perceptions" of the border, the government says. "In certain areas along the LAC in the Tawang Sector in Arunachal Pradesh there are areas of differing perception, wherein both sides patrol the area up to their claim lines," said the sources.

The Indian commander in the area held a flag meeting with his Chinese counterpart to comply with "structured mechanisms to restore peace and tranquility", the government said.

The clashes have erupted after a long gap since the incidents at Eastern Ladakh. The worst of these clashes broke out at Galwan Valley in June 2020, when 20 Indian soldiers died for the country and over 40 Chinese soldiers were killed or injured.

This was followed by several confrontations between the two nations, including one at the South Bank of Pangong Lake. After multiple meetings between military commanders, Indian and Chinese troops pulled back from key points including Gogra-Hot Springs in Ladakh.