China is vigorously strengthening its air and missile forces in the troubled province of Xinjiang close to the border with India to enable the People's Liberation Army (PLA) to stage a massive counterattack in the event of a war against India.

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The warplanes and missiles are being deployed in western Xinjiang and in Tibet along the border with India.

The unexpected ramping-up of Chinese military power is seeing a steady deployment of front line fighter and attack jets of the People's Liberation Army Air Force (PLAAF) and ballistic missiles operated by the People's Liberation Army Rocket Force (PLARF).

Chinese media reveal the PLAAF is stationing an increasing number of Shenyang J-11 air superiority fighters; Chengdu J-10 multirole fighters; Xian HK-6 strategic bombers and Shaanxi KJ-500 airborne early warning and control aircraft at different airbases in Xinjiang.

The HK-6 bombers and the J-10 fighters have been deployed to airbases in Hotan, an oasis town in southwestern Xinjiang. This province borders the Indian territory of Aksai Chin seized by China from India during the Sino-Indian War of 1962.

PLARF has deployed more of its mobile missile units at the city of Korla in Xinjiang. The type of missiles operated by these units weren't identified, however.

What is known is that Chinese ballistic missiles such as the DF-31 long-range, road-mobile ICBM and DF-31A (a longer range variant) aimed at India have been deployed to Delingha, north of Tibet.

On the other hand, India has also been strengthening its military forces, especially Indian Air Force (IAF) units, along the border.

In September, India said it had upgraded four IAF airfields 100 km or less from its border with China at Arunachal Pradesh state -- which China claims to own and will try to seize in the event of a war. India said it will finish the construction of two more airfields within the year as it tries to match an equally massive Chinese build-up of its air and missile power.

Despite the Indian military build-up, the military balance along the border is heavily against India.

China has deployed 300,000 men of the People's Liberation Army Ground Force along its border with India.

The Chinese have also built airfields at Hoping, Pangta and Kong Ka to support six existing airfields in the Tibetan Autonomous Region that can handle fighter jets and heavy transport aircraft.

Arrayed against these forces are 120,000 Indian Army soldiers that will soon receive 90,000 reinforcements. Supporting these men are two IAF Su-30MKI squadrons from Tezpur in Assam.

Also counted in India's favor is the forthcoming deployment of a BrahMos supersonic cruise missile regiment to the state.

Tagschina, India, Xinjiang, People's Liberation Army, Shenyang J-11, Chengdu J-10, Indian Air Force