China Rapidly Expands 6 Himalayan Airbases Amid Rising India Tensions

China is accelerating the upgrade of six major airbases along its disputed border with India, including Ngari Gunsa, Hotan, and Lhasa, with more hardened shelters, underground facilities, and extended runways to raise combat readiness. Satellite imagery reveals the existence of hardened aircraft shelters, SAM sites, and H-6 bomber aprons at Kashgar Air Base, and upgraded civilian airports like Changdu Bangda for potential military use. The build-up, concentrated in Tibet and Xinjiang, is to offset India's Rafale deployments and increase strike potential in contested regions like Ladakh and Arunachal Pradesh. Experts warn this heralds a long-term PLA approach to dominate airspace and continue operations during potential conflicts. Despite infrastructural brinkmanship, 2025 may see constrained diplomatic engagement, as both nations balance border tensions with economic pragmatism. Sources: NDTV, The War Zone, China Global South