Re: India 'watchful' of China's rising military profile: Defence minis
This is in reaction to the report –"India 'watchful' of China's rising military profile."
In this debate of India's preparedness on China's military rise there are standard arguments for and against a corresponding Indian build-up against China's military investment that is backed by a second big world economy status.
A. Arguments 'Against'
1. Soon after China's first nuclear explosion in 1964, China declared its 'no-first-use' policy. In a Chinese Ministry of Foreign Affairs 'statement faxed (1996) to this writer [then UN-correspondent at Vienna International Center (U.N.)] by the then Chinese Ambassador in Vienna, HE Chang Che, it said: "Since the first day when China came into possession of nuclear weapons, China has solemnly declared that at no time and under no circumstances will it be the first to use nuclear weapons. China has also undertaken unconditionally not to use or threaten to use nuclear weapons against non-nuclear weapon states or nuclear weapon-free zones. China is the only nuclear weapon-state in the world that has made and abided by such commitments. China has never deployed nuclear weapons outside its border, nor has it ever used or threatened to use nuclear weapons against other countries. " (highlights my own)
2. China has never entered into any military blocs implying, its military build-up is solely for defending itself and its borders (includes its claims on neighbouring islands!), thus other countries should not worry of its military strength.
3. China cannot afford to antagonise the world in embarking on external aggression for fear of losing its big world market, hence its wealth and economic strength.
4. India has an on-going and ever-growing, substantial, and prospective trade with China, hence a military build-up, let alone a confrontation, is not called for. China's military build-up is directed against the U.S. and its allies and not against India, thus India better spare its money.
B. Arguments 'For'
1. In spite of its "no first-use" China moved a fair portion of its nuclear arsenals to India's borders in East and North soon after India's 1998 nuclear/thermonuclear explosions. This obviously compels India to a defensive build-up to strategically counter China and Pakistan simultaneously, as forced on it by the strategic,"balance of terror" parity logic, although India too has declared its "no first-use".
2. India requires a large, effective maritime force, not just to protect its large ocean borders alone, but also to deploy in emergency to shield those vital goods trespassing sea lanes to ensure commercial security. Additionally, India could be called upon by neighbouring States for defensive help.
3. To counter China's relatively huge build-up and not squander its money in "parity deficit" vis-Ã -vis China, India is forced to cooperate with democratic countries like, Japan, Australia, South Korea and democratic ASEAN States. That could prevent China from going "erratic" and hinder its aggression in Asia.
4. China has amassed a vast amount of high-tech know-how and know-why in producing its own state-of-the-art combat stealth planes, war ships (including nuc subs & nuc-powered aircraft carriers), Outer Space enemy satellite elimination etc. etc. that India can't overlook and afford to keep still. Thus India seeks help in these areas from Russia, the U.S. and lately Japan.
In light of these, there are severe limitations to India's options.
i. It is still a poor country having more poor people than the LDC's in Africa put together, a poverty problem China eliminated long ago, thanks to its communist dictatorship.
ii. It needs an enormous amount of money& resources to build its infrastructure. Even Russia, despite being a top military power and a major exporter of military goods, is forced to buy Germany technology and expertise to make up for infrastructure deficits. India's position fairs no better.
iii. Pakistan has opted ridiculously the "first-use", ludicrously citing NATO as its mentor. One has to ask, NATO being a bunch of world's richest with nil sanctions to fear, hence can afford "self-enlightened" aggression on anybody outside NATO, what is an economic "pariah" Pakistan after all, to parade and be proud of a "first use"? India's purse is overtly stretched to secure an absolutely effective, nuclear second-strike for this very reason, to stop Pakistan from nuclear adventure.
iv. India as non-aligned, can afford to "cooperate" only, but not "confront" by entering into a formal military alliance, be it in Indian Ocean or South China Sea.
v. China's "double-face" is a big strategy planning problem. One doesn't know when to believe and not to believe. Despite signaling an image of a self-styled peace promoter (official Chinese position) many believe, it has sedulously proliferated nuclear weapon technology to Pakistan and via Pak to N. Korea and space missile technology to N. Korea and via N. Korea to Pakistan, all crafty "black" deals.
vi. India is in a sticky corner, forced to give a semblance of military parity strength requiring unaffordable billions in forex and simultaneously save every cent to combat its infrastructure problems and mass poverty, altogether an envious situation to be caught in.
George Chakko, former UN-correspondent at the Vienna International Center, now retiree.
December 02, 2012, Vienna, Austria
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PTI Apr 9, 2012, 06.30PM IST
NEW DELHI: Noting that China has upgraded its military force projection against India through rapid modernisation, the defence ministry on Monday said the country was "conscious and watchful" of Beijing's rising military profile in the immediate and extended neighbourhood.
In its annual report for 2011-12 released on Monday, the defence ministry said Pakistan continued to be a "cause of concern" due to undiminished activities of terror organisations there.
"Chinese footprints in India's neighbourhood are increasing progressively due to its proactive diplomacy through political, military and economic engagements.
"Rapid infrastructure development in Tibet and Xinjiang has considerably upgraded China's military force projection against India and improved their overall strategic and operational flexibility," the ministry said in its report.
The report said "India remains conscious and watchful of the implications of China's profile in the immediate and extended neighbourhood."
The report said the Army is "fully seized" of the security scenario and has "identified" strategically important infrastructure requirements along the Line of Actual Control (LAC) and they are being developed in a phased manner.
The report said India has been desirous of cordial relations with China and "to this end, a policy of positive engagement and maintaining peace and tranquillity along the LAC is ensured".
On the Pakistan front, the report said that a prosperous Pakistan was in the best interest of India but the "existence of terrorist camps across the India-Pakistan border and continued infiltration attempts along the Line of Control (LoC) continue to pose a threat".
India 'watchful' of China's rising military profile: Defence ministry - Times Of India