India Reactivates Air Base Close to China in Kashmir

印重新启用靠近中国边境空军基地

　



India has reactivated a strategic air base close to the Chinese frontier in Indian administered Kashmir, more than 40 years after it was abandoned. India plans to revive more bases close to the Chinese frontier, asserting its military prowess near China and central Asia.

　

印度重新启用了在靠近中国边境的印度控制的克什米尔地区一个具有战略意义的空军基地。这个基地40年多前曾被废弃。印度还打算在中国边境附近重新启动其它基地，以加强印度在中国和中亚附近的军事力量。

On Saturday the Indian Air Force pilots landed a Russian-built Antonov-32 transport aircraft at the Daulatbeg Oldi air base in Ladakh province of Indian administered Kashmir. At an altitude of more than 4,937 meters, close to the Chinese controlled portion of Kashmir, the air strip is considered the highest in the world.

　

星期六，印度空军飞行员驾驶一架俄罗斯制造的安东诺夫-32型运输机在印控克什米尔地区拉达克邦的斗拉特别奥里地空军基地降落。斗拉特别奥里地空军基地海拔4千9百37米，靠近中国控制的克什米尔地区，被认为是世界上海拔最高的机场。

The revival of the base, abandoned in 1966, is seen by analysts as India's military standing up to China. This comes as the Air Force plans to revive two more bases in eastern Ladakh, both close to the Chinese frontier.

　

分析人士认为，重新启用这个在1966年废弃的机场是印度向中国显示军力的一种姿态。与此同时，印度空军还打算重新启用拉达克邦东部的另外两个机场，这两个机场也都靠近中国边境。

The news agency Press Trust of India quoted Air Force sources as saying that the Daulatbeg Oldi Base was revived to bolster India's aerial and land reconnaissance capability in the strategic region.

　

印度报业托拉斯援引空军部门消息人士的话说，重启斗拉特别奥里地基地是为了加强印度在这个战略地区的空中和陆地侦察能力。

The news agency said that regular operations would be initiated at the base, while two other air fields, Chushul and Fukche, also along the Chinese frontier, will be revived.

　

该通讯社还报导说，基地将进行正常运作。另外两个靠近中国边境的基地，丘舒尔(音译)和富克彻(音译)也会将被重新启用。

The Daulatbeg Oldi Air Base, abandoned in 1966 after an earthquake rendered it unusable, is located close to the Chinese controlled portion of Kashmir, also referred to as Aksai Chin. It is eight kilometers from the Karokaram Highway, that links Pakistan with China and is part of the historic silk route that linked Kashmir with central Asia.

　

斗拉特别奥里地基地是在1966年的一次地震中遭到严重破坏、无法使用后被废弃的。斗拉特别奥里地靠近中国控制的克什米尔地区，也被称作阿克赛钦。该基地距离连接中国和巴基斯坦的卡拉卡姆高速公路只有8公里，卡拉卡姆高速公路是联接克什米尔和中亚地区的古丝绸之路的一部分。

The base was set up and used as an advance landing ground during the Indo-Chinese conflict in 1962.

　

斗拉特别奥里地基地建于1962年，是中印冲突时进攻机队的停机坪。

Defense Analysts in New Delhi see the revival of the air base as an assertion of India's military power and a projection of India's defense posture near China and Central Asia.

　

新德里的国防分析人士认为，重新启用这个机场是为了显示印度军力，并反映印度在中国和中亚附近的防御姿态。

Phunchok Stobdan is a senior fellow at the Institute of Defence Studies and Analyses, New Delhi. Stobdan says India has been avoiding confrontations with China, and says the recent problems in Tibet were an immediate concern.

　

彭楚克.施特丹(音)是新德里国防研究和分析中心的一位高级研究员。他说，印度向来避免与中国发生冲突。最近西藏发生的暴力事件是印度目前关注的一个问题。

There have been limitations to what we could do, when the recent riots took place in Tibet," Stobdan said. "We could not stand up behind the Tibetans to interfere in China's internal issues. But I think strengthening your own borders furthers the implications of what is happening there. "

　

他说：“当最近西藏发生暴乱时，我们能够做的确实有限。我们不能起来支持西藏人而干涉中国的内部问题，但是，我认为加强自己的边境会对那里发生的一切有进一步暗示作用。”

Adding that China made 24 attempts to take hold of the Dalulatbeg air base during the last India-Pakistan conflict in Kargil, Stobdan says India has awakened late to the problem.

　

施特丹补充说，印度和巴基斯坦上次在格尔吉尔发生冲突时，中国曾经24次试图控制斗拉特别奥里地基地，印度对这个问题认识较晚。

"On the other side there are 13 such projects going on," Stobdan said. "Modernization of airports and creating more infrastructure. This has been going on for a very long time on the Chinese side. The Indian side has woken up very late.

　

施特丹说：“另一方面，印度目前有13个类似项目正在进行中，以现代化的设备来装备机场并修建更多的基础设施。就中国而言，这种行动已经进行了很长一段时间了。印度方面醒悟很晚。”

For now however, Analysts say the base can best be utilized for dropping food and supplies to the troops posted in rugged mountainous terrain, where troops still rely on mules.

　

不过，分析人士说，目前这个基地的最大作用是向部署在崎岖山区地带的部队提供食品等供应。这些地方的驻军还得依赖毛驴运输。

South Asian nuclear neighbors, India, Pakistan and China, each control portions of Jammu and Kashmir divided by a ceasefire line called the Line of Control, and Actual Line of Control. The major portions lie within India and Pakistan, who have fought three wars over the region, while China controls a largely unpopulated region.

　

印度、巴基斯坦和中国是三个拥有核武器的亚洲国家。三个国家各自控制查谟和克什米尔的部分地区，这些地区的分界线是名为“控制线”或“实际控制线”的一条停火界线。克什米尔的大部分地区位于印度和巴基斯坦境内，两国为了取得这个地区的控制权已经爆发了三次战争。中国控制的地区基本上人烟稀少。