Satellite imagery has revealed China has deployed more than a dozen of its advanced J-20 stealth fighter jets at the high-altitude Shigatse air base in Tibet, less than 150 kilometers from India's Sikkim border.
This development places the J-20s within 300 kilometers of the Indian Air Force's base in Hasimara, Bengal, which houses the IAF's second squadron of 16 Rafale fighter aircraft tasked with defending Eastern India's Himalayan frontier.
The Indian Air Force operates two Rafale squadrons with a total of 36 jets, while China is believed to have manufactured approximately 250 J-20 stealth fighters.
Until recently, the J-20s were primarily stationed on China's eastern frontier, defending the Pacific seaboard.
The presence of at least seven J-20s at Shigatse marks a significant strategic shift and has major military implications for India.
Shigatse, the second-largest city in Tibet, is situated at an altitude of 12,408 feet and has a dual-use airport for civil and military purposes.
The deployment demonstrates the J-20's capability to operate from the harsh environment of ultra-high altitude Tibetan air bases.
