China Constructing New Heliport Just 20 Km Away From Arunachal Pradesh: Report

New Delhi: China is building up military might near the Line of Actual Control in the easternmost corner of Arunachal Pradesh, known as the ‘Fishtails’.

Prominent open-source intelligence (OSINT) analyst Damien Symon took to X to publish satellite imagery of China constructing a new heliport near Arunachal’s ‘Fishtails’ sector, just 20 kilometres from the Indian border.

This facility will help China mobilise troops rapidly to forward positions and boost border patrols.

This is China’s latest attempt to strengthen infrastructure along its borders with India. A few days ago, External Affairs Minister S. Jaishankar said in Geneva that nearly 75 per cent of the disengagement problems with China have been sorted out, but the bigger issue has been the increasing militarisation of the frontier.

According to media reports, the heliport is being constructed at Nyingchi Prefecture in the southeastern part of the Tibet Autonomous Region. Fish Tail-I and II border the region. There has been frequent patrolling by both Indian and Chinese forces at the Fish Tail-II region. The construction of the heliport is said to have begun after December 1, 2023, The Week reported.

Reports say China has constructed over 10 helipads near the Line of Actual Control (LAC) as part of the process of ramping up the infrastructure along the borders. These will help China ensure rapid deployment and logistical support for its troops in the forward region.

China is particularly focusing on the strategically significant Chip Chap sector of Patrol Point 13 and the Hot Springs and Gogra regions, according to the report.

Military sources who are monitoring the construction of the heliport add that while “this is definitely military infrastructure being constructed,” the new facility may also have a dual-use function to enable the movement of civilians into the remote area. The heliport, they add, enhances Chinese “defensive and offensive operations [and] their reaction capabilities increase.” This enables a speedy build-up of troops during a contingency, NDTV reported.

“This heliport will be a threat to key areas which are considered ‘sensitive’ here,” Lt General Pravin Bakshi (retired), who headed the Eastern Command of the Indian Army was quoted as saying by NDTV.  “I would take serious note and look to orchestrate a suitable response, if ever required, in concern with the Indian Air Force so as to prevent any ‘grey-zone’ warfare being efficiently prosecuted by the Chinese here.” Grey-Zone warfare refers to a form of conflict which falls below the threshold of conventional war while still threatening boundary lines through coercive means that threaten stability.

The heliport under construction features a 600-metre runway which can be used for rolling take-offs of helicopters, a technique used in high-altitude areas where there is less power available for helicopters to use. Despite this runway, the new heliport is situated in an area where the altitude is substantially lower than large tracts of the Tibetan plateau. This benefits helicopter operations. “While the rest of the plateau has a disadvantage because of altitude, the general altitude in this area is in the 1500 metre (approximately 5000 feet) range which allows greater payload to be carried by choppers and aircraft.”