India is sending its MiG-29Ks north to Ladakh. The MiGs should perform better than their Su-30s in the Himalayas because they are lighter. The MiGs are supposed to fly from the new aircraft carrier,
Vikrant, but its construction is delayed, so they may as well send them north and give the pilots some training.
Meanwhile, five Rafales departed France for India, which starts the delivery of this new procurement.
The USS
Nimitz Carrier Strike Group is currently training with the Indian Navy in the Indian Ocean.
A large joint exercise with USA, Japan and Australia continues in the vicinity of Guam.
US planes approached the Chinese mainland on Sunday, one within 80km of Shanghai, which is one of the closest approaches in recent memory. A P-8A & an EP-3E reconnaissance plane entered the Taiwan Strait, flying near the coast of Zhejiang & Fujian.
The tensions are certainly rising; the prospect of a conflict in the next couple of years is likely. China is prepared to lose lives to achieve its goals. But are the USA and its allies prepared to lose lives to contain China?