It has been three years since the Doklam stand-off between India and China created ripples of uncertainty regarding the security of the entire region. Now, as tensions have risen anew at the Line of Actual Control (LAC), there have been reports of China building thirteen military bases near the LAC.

The Times of India has published a report claiming that Beijing is in the process of constructing three air bases, five permanent air defense positions and five heliports. The construction of one of the heliports apparently commenced after the current dispute erupted in early May. The scale of degradation in bilateral relations have been said to be the greatest since the Sino-Indian War in the sixties.

Global security expert Sim Tack’s report titled “A Military Drive Spells Out China’s Intent Along the Indian Border” framed the basis of the current narrative. It has explored the issue in great detail. He has particularly cautioned that the development of China’s military capabilities could build towards protracted regional tensions with India.

The reports have made note of the Rafale fighter aircrafts that India procured from France and landed in the country on July 29, which might allay some of New Delhi’s concerns. However, no certain projections of rebuilding the Indian air force’s strength could be made within the crisis.

As two nuclear powers stand against each other, the escalation of conflict along the LAC has created a situation of uncertainty in the entire region.