2006-12-04
It's Navy Day today and India's Navy Chief has warned that Sino-Indian rivalry is spilling over to the seas. He says India must take steps to counter the Chinese threat from the sea, reports CNBC-TV18.
On December 4, 1971, the Indian Navy earned its spurs as a war fighting force by launching a blistering attack on Karachi. The day has since been observed as Navy Day. Ahead of Navy Day, India's Naval leadership has outlined the new threats from the sea to India's security.
"China is, therefore, we believe, developing a certain amount of, in our terms, we call it shaping the maritime battlefield," says Chief of Naval Staff, Admiral Sureesh Mehta.
The Asian rivalry to dominate the Indian Ocean Region is now out into the open. And India has made its unease over increasing Chinese presence clear.
"Policies are always made 20 years ahead. So they're looking far ahead. We also need to look far ahead and make sure we have the capability," he adds.
The Navy also insists that Chinese companies be kept out of port modernization projects. According to Admiral Sureesh Mehta, "The date, which is of a sensitive nature like hydrology, if that gets known to a nation, which may be inimical to you in the years ahead, then it's a cause for concern."
The Admiral's concern is that most Indian warships can operate only in shallow waters whereas naval superiority will be determined on the high seas. So, plug the gaps now or face the prospect of hostile forces, determinging the agenda in the waters around India - that is the Indian Navy's warning.
Let's see. India wants state of the art military hardware. They are a NON-MUSLIM state. They are threatened by China and they are a peaceful nation. Geez, I can't think of a better ally for the USA than India. They are slated to overtake China in population in a few years, and half the country already speaks English. Give'um everything they need. We need to cozy up our US-India relations. They could wind up being one of the best allies the USA has ever had.
That's probably more than will join the U.S. navy during the same period.
RS. 30,000 Crore is 300 Billion Rupees or about $6.7 Billion at today's exchange rate.