China will not be able to repeat 1962 now: Air Force Chief India News and Travel Times Provides India-centric and other News and Features

Refusing to be drawn into a comparison between the armed forces of India and China, Chief of Air Staff, Air Chief Marshal P V Naik, today assured that it would not be possible for the Chinese to repeat 1962 at the moment. Air Chief Marshal Naik's comment assumes significance in the wake of Communist China exhibiting its military might during its 60th anniversary celebrations in Tianamen Square on Thursday, as also the adverse reaction to alleged Chinese incursions into Indian territory. Addressing his annual press conference ahead of the 77th Air Force Day, Air Chief Marshal Naik said: " The IAF is not threat specific and we have decided to go with certain set of capability building in order to go into the future and help the country's aspirations to grow." "Overall build up of capabilities is going on and I don't think a repeat of 1962 is possible now," said the Air Force Chief, adding that there is nothing to worry about China. The Chinese armed forces launched simultaneous offensives in Ladakh and across the McMahon Line on October 20, 1962. The Sino-Indian War is notable for the harsh conditions under which the fighting took place, entailing large-scale combat at altitudes of over 14,000 feet. Recently, Air Chief Marshal Naik had admitted that India's aircraft strength was one third of China. Union Finance Minister Pranab Mukherjee on Wednesday had said that India would not surrender its sovereign rights over Arunachal Pradesh and other areas claimed by China as its territory.