NEW DELHI: Prime Minister Vajpayee's visit to China might have ushered in a new upward trajectory in bilateral ties but the Indian armed forces continue to keep a watchful - and concerned eye - on the Red Dragon's rapid modernisation of its air, naval and ground forces.
Army officers feel that while upswing in ties is a welcome development, India cannot afford to slacken its vigil on the eastern front.
"Our military strategy revolves around maintaining a strategic balance on both fronts... ensuring 'credible deterrence' against Pakistan and 'affordable deterrence' against China," said an Army officer.
The Chinese People's Liberation Army (PLA), spurred by a double-digit hike in its budget for the 14th straight year, is galloping ahead with its modernisation programmes.
These range from inducting solid-fuel mobile Inter-Continental Ballistic Missiles (ICBMs) like the 8,000-km-range 'DF-31' to undertaking new-generation fighter aircraft production projects.
The defence ministry has said, "Every major Indian city is within the reach of Chinese missiles and this capability is being further augmented to include submarine-launched ballistic missiles."
We have been too focused on Pakistan, which is a hive of terror, and on China, who is our ideological foe.
We drove India to get a lot of military h/w from the Russians...we'd best wake up and not drive them to the PRC.
Thanks for the article.