A low tide recurred in the relationship between China and India after India arrested two so-called "Chinese spies". It is reported that the high-ranking Chinese officials are discussing the possibility of a partial war breaking out on the border between China and India as a result of the adventurous military action India may take in the border area within the future several months. Normally, the 13th and 14th group armies of the Chengdu military region are in charge of the military deployment "with a strategic direction against India". With approximately 160,000 soldiers, these two group armies are mainly located in the remote areas of both Tibet and Yunnan.

The 13th group army has set up a complete, relatively modern mountainous division. The forces stationed in the forward position on the China-Indian border are no more than 1 divisions. In case of war, these forces can receive the support within 48 hours, from a rapid reaction force, rapid development force of about 20,000 people, which are the 2 divisions coming from the 13th and 14th group armies and the part of 15th airborne army respectively. Within 4 to 7 days, they can expect the support from the 42nd, 21st, and 54th group armies, each of which provides a division of rapid deployment forces. At this time, the total number of troops may reach 100,000 to 150,000. Therefore, in the first 4 to 7 days, the Chinese troops may have to stand a severe test if India launches a massive surprise attack.

China lags farther behind in its air force. The air force of the Chengdu military region has an estimated total of 300 fighter planes, most of which are J7 2(the early model of the MiG21), J6 (the MiG19), and Q5 (the upgraded MiG19) fighter planes. Within 8-24 hours after the war, the air force may receive the air support from a part of 48 Su27s, 100 J8 1/2s(the enlarged MiG21s, some of which have the functions of the MiG23 MF that the Indian air force uses.), and 50 J7 3s (the MiG21 MF). Despite all these, India still gains the upper hand and basically has the control of the air.

In the area of ground-to-ground missiles, however, China occupies an overwhelmingly dominant position. Its forces on the base of the medium-range ballistic missiles in Jianshui of Yunnan Province and a large number of mobile DF15s (the M9) and M11s may all constitute a threat to the air force bases and military depots of India. With the fact that India has a strong air force while the ground-to-ground missiles of the Chinese army exert a forceful deterrent, how will its escalation be controlled in case a conflict takes place? This is where this conflict is fundamentally different from the conflict of 1962. (Edited by Donald Goel KWIC) .

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