CAD
FULL MEMBER
- Joined
- May 9, 2017
- Messages
- 608
- Reaction score
- 0
- Country
- Location
India fears Chinese encirclement, citing 'overwhelming' Sino presence in South Asia 
PM
By South Asia correspondent James Bennett
Posted about 2 hours ago
PHOTO: Indian officials are concerned about China's "overwhelming" maritime presence in the region. (ABC: Bill Birtles, file)
"It would become easier for China to start projecting power into the Indian Ocean region," he said.
"Already we are seeing that the Chinese submarine deployments in the region have grown substantially."
PHOTO: China's naval power continues to increase in an age of uncertainty over America's place in the region. (Reuters, file)
The concerns come amid continuing speculation over how globally engaged the United States will remain under President Donald Trump.
Dhruva Jaishankar, a foreign policy fellow at the Brookings think tank in New Delhi said Beijing was benefiting from that uncertainty.
"China's rise as an international power has accelerated under these circumstances," he said.
"Not because in material terms Chinese power has rapidly increased in the last few months but basically because of a withdrawal in some ways, or that uncertainty about US power projection in the region."
Last Friday at the Shangri-La defence dialogue in Singapore, US Defence Secretary Jim Mattis sought to allay fears that America was vacating its global leadership role.
"We cannot and will not accept unilateral changes to the status quo," Mr Mattis said.
"We will continue to fly, sail and operate wherever international law allows, and demonstrate resolve and operational presence in the South China Sea and beyond."
Mr Singh said while India planned on expanding its naval capacity, his country saw America's role as leading a regional balancing act.
"It is being seen by New Delhi as imperative that it expands its own operational presence in the region, and to do that it would need the assistance of its close partners and friends, the US, Japan and Australia," he said.
Worried about provoking Beijing, Australia left out of regional exercises
PHOTO: Malcolm Turnbull implored China to respect the sovereignty of its neighbours in a speech at the Shangri-La dialogue. (ABC News: Adam Harvey)
But India isn't moving too quickly, apparently fearful of a Beijing backlash.
Australia confirmed last week that India had rejected its request to observe naval exercises between America, India and Japan.
Mr Singh said New Delhi's reluctance to acquiesce to Australian involvement was pragmatic.
"Because the message might be seen as a bit too provocative by China," he said.
Brookings India's Dhruva Jaishankar said that was because — like Australia — India is increasingly economically dependent on its regional rival.
"There is a need at the same time not just to take an adversarial position, and strictly balance in the traditional sense, but also to develop, particularly economically, a much more cooperative relationship with China," he said.
Also in Singapore last Friday, Prime Minister Malcolm Turnbull implored China to respect the sovereignty of its neighbours and 'rules-based order' which he said had underpinned Asia's growth.
Mr Turnbull said 21st century China would gain from respecting its neighbours' sovereignty.
What is clear is that Australia is certainly not alone in feeling torn between economic and security goals.
http://www.abc.net.au/news/2017-06-05/india-fears-chinese-encirclement/8591160
PM
By South Asia correspondent James Bennett
Posted about 2 hours ago
PHOTO: Indian officials are concerned about China's "overwhelming" maritime presence in the region. (ABC: Bill Birtles, file)
"It would become easier for China to start projecting power into the Indian Ocean region," he said.
"Already we are seeing that the Chinese submarine deployments in the region have grown substantially."
PHOTO: China's naval power continues to increase in an age of uncertainty over America's place in the region. (Reuters, file)
The concerns come amid continuing speculation over how globally engaged the United States will remain under President Donald Trump.
Dhruva Jaishankar, a foreign policy fellow at the Brookings think tank in New Delhi said Beijing was benefiting from that uncertainty.
"China's rise as an international power has accelerated under these circumstances," he said.
"Not because in material terms Chinese power has rapidly increased in the last few months but basically because of a withdrawal in some ways, or that uncertainty about US power projection in the region."
Last Friday at the Shangri-La defence dialogue in Singapore, US Defence Secretary Jim Mattis sought to allay fears that America was vacating its global leadership role.
"We cannot and will not accept unilateral changes to the status quo," Mr Mattis said.
"We will continue to fly, sail and operate wherever international law allows, and demonstrate resolve and operational presence in the South China Sea and beyond."
Mr Singh said while India planned on expanding its naval capacity, his country saw America's role as leading a regional balancing act.
"It is being seen by New Delhi as imperative that it expands its own operational presence in the region, and to do that it would need the assistance of its close partners and friends, the US, Japan and Australia," he said.
Worried about provoking Beijing, Australia left out of regional exercises
PHOTO: Malcolm Turnbull implored China to respect the sovereignty of its neighbours in a speech at the Shangri-La dialogue. (ABC News: Adam Harvey)
But India isn't moving too quickly, apparently fearful of a Beijing backlash.
Australia confirmed last week that India had rejected its request to observe naval exercises between America, India and Japan.
Mr Singh said New Delhi's reluctance to acquiesce to Australian involvement was pragmatic.
"Because the message might be seen as a bit too provocative by China," he said.
Brookings India's Dhruva Jaishankar said that was because — like Australia — India is increasingly economically dependent on its regional rival.
"There is a need at the same time not just to take an adversarial position, and strictly balance in the traditional sense, but also to develop, particularly economically, a much more cooperative relationship with China," he said.
Also in Singapore last Friday, Prime Minister Malcolm Turnbull implored China to respect the sovereignty of its neighbours and 'rules-based order' which he said had underpinned Asia's growth.
Mr Turnbull said 21st century China would gain from respecting its neighbours' sovereignty.
What is clear is that Australia is certainly not alone in feeling torn between economic and security goals.
http://www.abc.net.au/news/2017-06-05/india-fears-chinese-encirclement/8591160
go on try this .
.
