Recent intelligence reports have indicated the deployment of Chinese bombers to Hotan airbase in Xinjiang as India conducts military exercises along the Line of Actual Control (LAC). This move by the People’s Liberation Army Air Force (PLAAF) highlights China’s strategy to enhance its airpower near the Indian border, particularly at forward bases housing strategic assets like H-6 bombers and J-20 stealth fighters. In response, the Indian Air Force has heightened its readiness, especially at airbases in Ladakh and Arunachal Pradesh, including the newly activated Nyoma facility, to address potential threats amid ongoing tensions since the 2020 Galwan clash. This situation underscores the critical need for vigilance and preparedness in a geopolitically sensitive region.