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| PLAN Type- 39 Song Class Submarine ( Source- Wikimedia Commons / Author- SteKrrueBe) |
This news in Indian media was long coming. A Chinese submarine docked in Karachi port creeping close to the Indian territory and covering the entire length of the Indian coast from east to the west. It was a signal to all those concerned the PLAN has come of age and it is a power to be reckoned with and should not be under estimated.
People's Liberation Army Navy is the official naval wing of the Chinese Peoples Liberation Army. For the greater part of their history, PLAN was a brown water navy, meaning that it was primed for coastal security and did not possess the capability for power projection outside their realm. But with the massive economic liberalisation, China finally had the resources to build up on their navy. China also attained the capability for mass production that ensured that they could field more ships in lesser time than any other navy in the world. China developed their ship building capabilities to world class standard, hence ensuring that they deployed ships with world class technology including the latest in radar and sensor suits.
The main Chinese concerns was the resource rich South China Sea where they have a running dispute with it's neighbours. China claims the complete South China Sea as it's own which runs contrary and overlapping the claims of other countries like Vietnam. Hence to enforce it's supremacy, it has become imperative for China to build up a world class navy.
Further with an expanding economy, China's reliance on the sea increased. Indian Ocean carries three forth of their products to shores far and wide and is also the medium of the import of energy that powers the massive Chinese economy. Any blockade in the Gulf of Malacca with choke the Chinese economy to death. To deter the same, it became imperative for China to have a massive presence in the Indian Ocean region.
The Strings of pearls
The String of Pearls is a strategy by the Chinese by which they seek to develop strategic ports in countries like Myanmar, Sri Lanka, Maldives to the African coast. That will ensure that the Chinese have a foothold in the Indian Ocean region. Such infrastructure has dual use as they being civil can also be used as a staging point for military vessels. Such ports developed in Colombo and Hambantota in Sri Lanka and Gwadar port in Pakistan would serve their purpose.
Threat to India
The wakeup call came to India when two submarines belonging to PLAN docked in Sri Lanka, thanks to a China friendly government under Rajapakse ruling in Sri Lanka. But after the change of government in Sri Lanka, it was assured that no act that will be detrimental to India will be done and or staged from the Sri Lankan soil. But last week, news came out that a Chinese conventional submarine had docked in Karachi. That has happened for the first time and shows that China and Pakistan has started collaborating with the intention to contain India. There is little that India can do to thwart that as India does not have any influence over Pakistan.
Steps India should take to Counter China
India need to take urgent steps to face this threat. Indian capability due to a decade of inaction by the Congress led UPA government had become deteriorated. Indian submarine arm is in shambles with accidents and also delay in induction of newer platforms. Submarine is the most potent of all the sea going vessels. They can effectively be used to deny access to the enemy's navy. India is now left with under 13 submarines with half of them in refit. India also operate a lone Akula Class SSN, INS Chakra. Hence there is a greater urgency for modernisation. India need to take urgent steps to fasten the induction of the scorpene submarines currently under construction at the Mazagon Docks. India also need to fasten the early completion of the next line of submarines under the project-75i. India should as a stop gap measure think of buying key submarines from Russia before our indigenous capabilities come on line. India also need to strengthen it's anti submarine capability with induction of more anti submarine assets like the Kamorta class corvettes, P8i Aircraft and other assets. India also need to speed up it's indigenous capability for submarine production and ensure that SSBN and SSN are developed and inducted in war footing.
India needs to increase cooperation with key countries like USA, Japan, Australia and Vietnam to name a few. India should be able to leverage the vast resources and capabilities of the Americans and their allies to strengthen it's defence capabilities including defence production. India need to develop it's defence research and production capabilities so that India becomes a producer of weapons rather than import. India also need to strengthen it's presence in South China sea as a warning to China to not challenge India's supramecy in the Indian Ocean region.
The time is on India's side. The entire world is looking towards India to counter act against China and be a balancing power. It is time we grabbed the opportunity and transform our selves to one of the key powers of this century. It is in India's best interest to counter China and contain them before it is too late.
Vante Matharam
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