Bangalore, Jan 22 (Inditop.com) Chief of Air Staff P.V. Naik Friday said reports about China encroaching into India were not true and there was no change on the Sino-Indian border.
“Nothing has changed on the border. (Our) survey has not confirmed … China taking away our land,” Naik told reporters on the margins of an event here.
Denying any build-up on the border with China, the Indian Air Force (IAF) chief said such issues were the concern of the government and not of the air force.
“These are problems for the government and not for IAF,” Naik said after delivering the fourth Air Chief Marshal L.M. Khatre Memorial Lecture. Khatre was Chief of Air Staff in 1984-85.
Asked about China building airports in the border areas, Naik said China had the right to do whatever within its territory.
“A country which is its own master can do whatever within its borders,” Naik added.
Clarifying that supply of arms to Pakistan by China and the US had not shifted the balance of power in the region, the air chief said selling and buying of arms were matters between two countries.
“We are aware of such developments. If you ask me whether it had shifted the balance of power, my answer is not at all,” Naik asserted.
Naik was on a day’s visit to the country’s aerospace hub to address serving and former air warriors and aviation personnel from the industry and the state-run defence establishments.
The lecture was organised by the Air Force Association of Karnataka branch with the state-run Hindustan Aeronautics Ltd and Aeronautical Society of India (Bangalore branch).
