The man who features in a Chinese social site, whom the Chinese media hailed as the greatest statesman in the world and whom the Chinese consider to be thinking along their lines, has been giving the Middle Kingdom tough challenges. In fact, Narendra Modi is the first Indian Premier with a Chinese mind —-enigmatic, bold, pragmatic and unpredictable. China. Whose sole pre-occupation till the recent past was the US and which seldom bothered about India, has been in a delirious state following strategic resurgence of India under Modi. This becomes clear in media commentaries in the state-sponsored dailies like the Global Times.
Modi, with his excellent PR skill and innovative diplomacy has been following the principles of reconciliation(Bangladesh,Nepal & Sri Lanka), agreement (MTCR & LEMOA), alliance (US,Russia,Japan & Australia), acquisition (S400,Heron TP drones and Rafaels), Policy shift (Baluchistan), Space diplomacy (SAARC satellite, Saudi Arabia, Afghanistan & Vietnam) and Infrastructure (Chabahar & South East Asian highway) to shatter the Chinese dreams of a Mandarin Empire in Asia.
China’s One Belt, One Road policy has hit the greatest road block in the India Govt’s. policy shift regarding Baluchistan which harbours the Gwadar Port and the China-Pakistan Economic Corridor (CPEC) route. Baluchistan has been seeing massive upsurge in protests in and outside Pakistan following Modi’s Independence Day speech from the ramparts of the Red Port. Ostensibly Chinese dream of the $50 billion CPEC is in shambles.
Another area of Chinese concern is the Indian satellite-tracking station in its back-yard in Vietnam which possibly can track Chinese missile & space activities. In fact, the Indo-Vietnam defense co-operation is greatly annoying China with the prospect of Vietnam buying the deadly Brahmos missiles from India.
Afghanistan, which has been till the recent past, a de-facto Pakistani colony and China’s prospective mineral empire, has suddenly become an Indian ally much to the consternation of China. Afghanistan is partnering India in the development of the Iranian Chabahar Port which will provide India a gateway to the Central Asia.
Following the Land Agreement with Modi’s India, Bangladesh has also become a steadfast Indian ally supporting it in anti-Pak platforms and helping it in nabbing extremists, insurgents and criminals.
Similarly, Nepal is courting India though it is trying to maintain a balance between India & China. To counter China, India has proposed a railway network in Nepal.
Myanmar, to a considerable extent has drifted away from China and Modi’s pro-active engagement along with the emergence of Su Kyi at the power centre have helped India’s closeness to the country.
But most alarming for China and the greatest deterrent for India against China has been the well crafted Logistic Exchange Memorandum of Agreement (LEMOA) with the USA which can allow the US the use of Indian bases for attack against China and any country provided the concerned parties agree.
Moreover, Modi’s pro-active bonding with Japan has been another irritant for our Northern neighbour. Japan’s pro-active help to India in anti-submarine warfare (ASW) capabilities to contain Chinese nuclear submarine activities in the Indian Ocean and the proposed sale of US-2 sea planes to India have been other areas of concern for China.
Another successful and far-reaching strategic move by the Modi govt. has been securing the membership of the MTCR (Missile Technology Control Regime) group. Following this India can access drone and missile technologies from any country extending the prescribed range of 300kms. This has immediately resulted in Russia agreeing to build with India extended range Brahmos missile (600kms) and air-craft carrier killer version of the missile with extended range. This will also result in Israel supplying India the sophisticated Heron TP drones with a range of over 7000kms. India can also acquire Arrow 2 anti-ballistic missile system, dubbed by some as anti-satellite weapon.
Besides all these, the Chinese heads are rolling with the choice of strategic weapons by the Modi govt. Recent agreement with Russia to acquire S-400 anti-missile system & the agreement with France to acquire 36 Rafeal fighters with Meteor air-to-air BVR and Scalp air launched cruise missiles are two of them.Moreover, the Rafaels can be used as strategic nuclear bombers. Brahmos, which is already a worry for the Chinese, can be even more deadly with India’s recent agreement with Russia to produce double the range of its present version of the missile and a carrier killer version. Chinook is another strategic platform which can become handy for India in mountain warfare with China.
India’s deployments of Sukhoi 30 MKI in Pashighat in Arunachal Pradesh, 100 tanks in Ladakh and the positioning of the Brahmos missiles along the Indo-Tibetan border have made the Chinese nervous. Modi’s decision to downsize the Mountain Strike Corps to a half and utilising the fund to build six nuclear sub-marines has been another strategic move.
Another setback for the Chinese, must be the upswing in Indo-Russian relationship which the Chinese had hoped could freeze following the LEMOA with the US. The military agreements which were signed between the two countries can have direct bearing on China.
The Chinese are also anxious about the Make In India initiative which can transform India into a military industrial hub and can pose a direct economic, military and diplomatic challenge to China.
So undoubtedly the Chinese are quitely following the pro-active strategic steps of the Indian leader who has quietly commissioned into service the first indigenous nuclear submarine, building Asia’s largest military nuclear facility, strategic oil reserve and planning the underground data security control centres to face any NBC strikes. So Indians let us enjoy the game and cheer our captain.
– – – – – – – – – – – – – – – – – – – – – – – – – – – – – – – – – – – – – –
This article has been written by Mr.MONOTAPASH MUKHERJEE exclusively for www.Defenceupdate.in
– – – – – – – – – – – – – – – – – – – – – – – – – – – – – – – – – – – – – –
The post One After Another Modi’s Strategic Moves Rattle China appeared first on Defence Update.
from Defence Update http://ift.tt/2ejmzhM
via IFTTT
No comments: