RE:more exercises - threat to China
by Transformers on Sep 07, 2007 09:10 PM Permalink
The exquisiteness of India's naval diplomacy is that the objective of balancing is being undertaken through a policy of co-operation. With intense co-operation alone, New Delhi has been able to create a balance of power in the Indian Ocean. While on the one side India's apprehensions over China's string of pearls strategy in the Indian Ocean has woken up New Delhi to see these developments as a future threat, on the other side it is looking forward to improve bilateral co-operation with China through diplomatic and military engagement. Recently, the second round of India-China bilateral naval exercises was concluded in the Arabian Sea. It was the first time that Chinese forces joined manoeuvres in Indian territory. The first of this series was undertaken in the South China Sea in 2003. The India-China naval engagement reflects India's determination to move forward with the policy of regional co-operation. In an era of engagement, India will have to make all endeavours at the strategic level to balance China's power realistically, through the development of its own economic and military potential and by building stronger relationships with neighbours and regional organisations like ASEAN.
RE:more exercises - threat to China
by Transformers on Sep 07, 2007 09:07 PM Permalink
India has been apprehensive about China's growing naval expansion in the Indian Ocean. New Delhi views this as "encirclement" and has sometimes objected to Chinese links - especially military ties - with India's smaller neighbours. As China's new naval diplomacy unfolds in the region, India cannot remain a mute spectator and, much like China, has increased its military engagement in the region. Through 'engagement' it has successfully enhanced its regional and international profile and worked overtime to reduce Chinese influence to maintain a balance of power in the region. India now regularly conducts naval and military exercises with great powers, including the US, Japan, and China, as well as its South Asian and South-East Asian neighbours. New Delhi has signed a defence agreement with Singapore and has co-operative arrangements with many nations stretching from Seychelles to Vietnam. It has participated in mechanisms to protect maritime traffic passing through the strategic Malacca Straits.
RE:more exercises - threat to China
by Transformers on Sep 07, 2007 09:06 PM Permalink
In addition to economic gains, it is Sri Lanka's strategic location that has prompted Beijing to aim for a strategic relationship with Colombo. Beijing is much concerned about the growing US presence in the region as well as about increasing Indo-US naval co-operation in the Indian Ocean. Besides exploring options to cushion the impact of Indo-US strategic co-operation in the region, China looks at using the partnership with Sri Lanka to enhance its influence over strategic sea lanes of communication from Europe to East Asia and oil tanker routes from the Middle East to the Malacca Straits.
RE:more exercises - threat to China
by Transformers on Sep 07, 2007 09:05 PM Permalink
Given China's known interest in developing bases around the Indian Ocean littoral, a Chinese base in Maldives would not be surprising. Although China claims that its bases are only for securing energy supplies to feed its growing economy, Indian experts perceive the Chinese base in Maldives as motivated by Beijing's determination to contain and encircle India, and thereby limit the growing influence of the Indian Navy in the region. The Marao base deal was finalized after two years of negotiations when Chinese Prime minister Zhu Rongzi visited Male in May 2001. Once Marao comes up as the new Chinese 'pearl', Beijing's power projection in the Indian Ocean would be augmented.
RE:more exercises - threat to China
by Transformers on Sep 07, 2007 09:03 PM Permalink
A new great game has begun between India and China to bring Maldives and Sri Lanka under their respective sphere of influence in the Indian Ocean region. After Myanmar and Bangladesh, to complete the "arc of influence" in South Asia, China is determined to enhance military and economic co-operation with Maldives and Sri Lanka. China's ambition to form a naval base at Marao in the Maldives, its recent entry into oil exploration business in Sri Lanka, development of port and bunker facilities at Hambantota, strengthening military co-operation and boosting bilateral trade with Colombo, are all reasons for worry to Indian policy makers.
RE:more exercises - threat to China
by Transformers on Sep 07, 2007 09:05 PM Permalink
China is inching closer to Sri Lanka as well. Recently, Sri Lanka allocated an exploration block in the Mannar Basin to China for exploration of petroleum resources. This allocation would imply Chinese presence just a few kilometres from India's southern tip, thus causing strategic discomfort. In economic terms, it would also mean the end of the monopoly held by Indian oil companies in this realm, putting them into direct and stiff competition from wealthy Chinese oil companies. It should be noted that the Chinese are already present at Hambantota on the southern coast of Sri Lanka, where Beijing is building bunkering facilities and an oil tank farm. This infrastructure will help service hundreds of ships that traverse the sea-lanes of commerce off Sri Lanka. The Chinese presence in Hambantota would thus be another vital element in its strategic circle already enhanced through its projects in Pakistan, Myanmar and Bangladesh.
RE:more exercises - threat to China
by Transformers on Sep 07, 2007 09:09 PM Permalink
In recent years New Delhi has intensified its pace of co-operation with countries in the Indian Ocean littoral.After the success of its tsunami diplomacy,New Delhi is looking forward to evolve new channels of naval diplomacy with these countries.During the last one year, the just retired Indian Navy chief, Admiral Arun Prakash, visited many South East Asian and South Asian capitals.The primary aims of these visits were to enhance bilateral co-operation and strengthen naval ties.Two Indian warships currently on overseas deployment made friendly port calls in Bangladesh and Myanmar.During Arun Prakash's visit to Bangladesh, the two navies discussed possibilities of connecting Vishakapatnam and Chittagong ports.An access agreement with Dhaka, to be part of the Navys recommendations to the Indian Ministry of External Affairs, would allw more extensive patrolling, both sea borne and from air,in these sensitive waters. It will also recommend to the Government to make an offer to Dhaka for allowing Indian naval vessels to maintain some Bangladeshi ports, so as to compete with Beijing's strategic gains in that sector.(China signed a training and equipment agreement with Dhaka earlier this year.)Based on the Ministry of External Affairs' response, follow-up discussions wll be firmed up with Dhaka. Sch initiatives highlight the deeper understndng in South Block on the need to improve naval ties with its closest eastern neighbours to counter Chinse influence in the eastrn Indian Ocean
RE:more exercises - threat to China
by Transformers on Sep 07, 2007 09:04 PM Permalink
The Indian Defence Minister's visit to Maldives in July 2006 to hand over INS Tilanchang, a 260-ton, fast-attack craft and other supplies was an astute diplomatic response to China's plan of establishing a full-fledged naval base in Marao, a Maldivian island, by 2010. New Delhi is looking forward to restrain Chinese influence in the Indian Ocean region by sticking to its post Cold War policy of engagement. 'Balancing' through 'engagement' seems to be its current strategy to maintain a balance of power in this region.
