A Chinese military aircraft has been reported to have entered Indian airspace over Sikkim on November 12.
The report says it stayed in the area for about 20 to 25 minutes.
The Indian Air Force (IAF) reportedly spotted the aircraft around 8 am. It was flying at about 25,000 feet.
Graphic: News Anek, from the facts in this report
The IAF reportedly sent repeated radio warnings, asking it to return to Chinese territory.
The aircraft kept operating in the area despite the warnings, according to the report.
The report is based on an unnamed source.
As of November 15, the IAF and the Ministry of Defence had not issued a detailed statement.
China has not publicly responded either.
Key points
- A Chinese military aircraft is alleged to have entered Sikkim's airspace on November 12.
- It reportedly stayed about 20 to 25 minutes at around 25,000 feet.
- The IAF and the Ministry of Defence have not confirmed the incident yet.
- The Congress party has demanded a strong protest and questioned the government.
Why is this area so sensitive?
Sikkim shares a border with China's Tibet Autonomous Region. It also lies close to the Doklam plateau.
In 2017, Indian and Chinese troops were in a long standoff at Doklam. That is why the region receives close attention.
The area overlooks the Siliguri Corridor, which is popularly known as the 'Chicken's Neck'.
It is a narrow strip of land in West Bengal. It connects India's northeastern states with the rest of the country.
At its narrowest point, it is about 20 to 22 kilometres wide.
So any unusual military activity nearby is considered very important for national security.
How has the political reaction come?
The Congress party has criticised the central government over the alleged incident. It called the news 'extremely worrying'.
It urged the government to lodge a strong protest with China.
Congress also said it hoped Prime Minister Narendra Modi would not give China a 'clean chit' this time.
A clean chit is a formal statement that someone has done nothing wrong.
What is still unclear, and what comes next?
Several details have not been made public.
These include the type of aircraft, its exact flight path, and whether it responded to the warnings.
The report said the IAF was asked for a response and was awaiting a reply.
The government has not yet given an official confirmation. Until it does, this remains an allegation.
Explainer
What happened before
- In 2017, Indian and Chinese troops were in a long standoff at Doklam, near Sikkim.
- A similar row recently erupted over alleged Chinese incursions in Arunachal Pradesh, where the chief minister said transgression has happened.
Why it matters
The Siliguri Corridor is a narrow land link for India's northeast, so any military activity nearby is watched closely.
What to watch next
- The Indian Air Force and the Ministry of Defence have not yet given an official statement on the reported incident.
Sources
- Free Press Journal: Sikkim: Chinese Military Aircraft Allegedly Breaches Indian Airspace, Remains For 25 Minutes
- NKTV: Chinese Military Aircraft Allegedly Breaches Indian Airspace Over Sikkim, Sparks Political Row; Congress Targets Modi Government
- Times Now: 'Hopefully PM Won’t Give China Clean Chit': Cong Targets Centre Over Alleged Sikkim Airspace Violation
