China- India's greatest maritime security Challenge

Indian Navy's western fleet ( Image credits- Wikimedia Commons/ Author- Indian Navy)

(I am back again after two days break for the Vijayadhashami Poojas. For my first blog, I have decided to deal with India's greatest security challenge, China)

China, the enigma of the modern age. No single word can explain this unique power, be it an economic miracle or a regional bully. China has been a success story with remarkable advances and growth in the economic sector which has transformed a communist country to an economic power house. But China is a country of paradox. On one side, China seeks to develop cooperation economically with it's neighbours but on the other hand it seeks to take the line of confrontation with aggressive military postures that has put it's neighbors at unease.   

For India the developments is particularly worrying. India has a long running territorial dispute with China which has seen in recent times to flare up. Three unrelated events puts a great question mark on the trajectory where China intends to take this dispute. One is the transgression by China into India at the Chumar sector The matter was resolved by some deft steps on the India part. Later on a report emerged that China had also transgressed inside Sikkim. In an unrelated event report also emerged that a Chinese submarine had also made a port call at Srilanka. China is known to have stepped up it's presence in the Indian Ocean region (IOR) which India sees as it's backyard. For India, it is a matter of grave concern. China is rapidly transforming it's largely vintage navy with the induction of high tech ships, submarines and areal assets transforming itself to a true blue water navy, capable of operating and sustaining itself far away from their shores. China has also been cultivating constructive relationships with major countries in the Indian Ocean like Srilanka and Maldives with high powered investments including building of ports and other infrastructure. This has been called "The string of pearls" strategy. Many also see this as a strategy to contain and encircle India.  Reasons are aplenty for China to be active in Indian Ocean, the most important being assuring an unhindered access to the energy rich gulf region. It is through the Indian Ocean that majority of China's energy needs flows and any blockade will  choke the Chinese economy. China knows this better than anybody else. 

China in recent times had been trying to ruffle the feathers with aggressive postures against almost all of it's neighbors. It has laid claim to almost all of South China sea and has been trying to assert it's claim. This has made many neighbors including Vietnam, Philippines, South Korea among others cautious of China. They seek to build a counter weight against China where in India's importance come into the front. India along with United States and Japan will play a vital role in such an emerging alliance. 

Indian Navy Doctor treating a patient in Indonesia
 ( Image credits-Wikimedia commons, Author- United States Navy)

For China, the greatest headache is the distrust that it seems to be garnering among it's neighbors. It is seen as an unreliable power bent on projecting it's raw/ hard power to fulfill it's claims. India on the other hand is seen as a soft power, trusted as reliable and without any aggressive motives. Even the development of ICBM's by India has met with acceptance and understanding of India's strategic compulsions. India has been active in humanitarian operations post tsunami or other natural disasters in the far east which has increased the acceptance of India as a soft power. India also does not have major disputes with any countries except China and Pakistan.  Having said that, India has certain weakness in it's armour that need to be cured as soon as possible. India's biggest weakness is the fast depleting submarine fleet. India need to beef up it's undersea arm to keep up and counter China. China on it's part is inducting high end submarines and at a pace that will see it having the ability to exercise sea control to a large extent. But due to indecision of many years, India has failed to induct any submarine to it's fleet for so many years. India needs to beef up it's security. India will also need to develop Andaman Nicobar Isles  as major base. The recent comment by the Flag officer of the Andaman Nicobar Tri-Services command  for the need for a full fledged fleet to be based there need to be taken seriously and urgent steps taken in that direction. India should also develop Andaman & Nicobar Isles as a major military centre with basing of high end areal and terrestrial assets in the islands. Andaman- Nicobar Islands is sometimes referred to as the unsinkable aircraft carrier, justifiably because of it's presence to the gulf of Malacca, the choke point  connecting the Indian Ocean with the South China sea. Ensuring the strong military presence there assures choking China should China dare to take any action against India.

India also needs to develop alliances with other countries of the littoral South China sea. This ought include defence deals, training of personal and also cooperation in the level of economy, political and strategic relations. India has taken a good initiative in this regard with the commencement of training of personal of Vietnam to operate submarines. India will also need to increase cooperation with United States and Japan to counter China. There is a high level of trust between USA and India on which India needs to build a credible relationship for the betterment of Asia. Japan which is coming out of the closet will in times to come emerge as a major power. India has taken the right step by initiating strategic and defence ties with Japan. 

China will in years to come emerge as the greatest security challenge to India. It is for India to seize the initiative and take steps to safe guard it's interests in the new world order. 

Vante Mathram