Source: https://www.linkedin.com/feed/update/urn%3Ali%3Ashare%3A6811385680606982144
Tracking #China’s Sudden #Airpower #Expansion On Its Western Border
#Satellite #images raise concerns over Beijing’s incredible pace of expansion of its airpower infrastructure along its western flank.
https://lnkd.in/gSkeGAA :
“China’s bewilderingly quick construction of airfields atop man-made islands in the South China Sea, as well as its extra-territorial claims over that body of water, have grabbed headlines for years and the issue remains one of the most significant strategic and geopolitical problems of our time. Yet another far less discussed, but similar strategic expansion is underway in the western reaches of the Chinese mainland, which has gotten much less attention, yet it isn’t all that less concerning. Beijing’s remarkable blitz on airfield and other military-related construction in this remote region coincides with escalating tensions with its neighbor, India.”
“Fast forward a year, and China’s heavy investment in airpower-related facilities in the region is already being leveraged by the Chinese People’s Liberation Army Air Force (PLAAF), as evidenced by an unprecedented level of activity along the Sino-Indian border as of late. This is in addition to massive growth in ground-based air defenses, as well as the construction of new fortifications, heliports, and rail lines into the area. As such, there is more going on here than just some defensive upgrades and the strategic implications are potentially severe.”
“With that in mind, The War Zone brought in some of the best satellite image analysts we know, virtually a who’s-who of the strongest voices in Twitter’s open-source intelligence community who also specialize in developments in Asia. We want to actually show you via satellite imagery exactly what we mean when we say China is massively expanding its air combat capability footprint in the far western areas of the country, as well as what it all means.”
Global Risk Management Network LLC: Silicon Valley-Wall Street-Pentagon Digital Pioneer
