thestringshredder
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Why Chinas Growing Military Should Concern India
Chinas latest white paper on defence, a once-in-two-year exercise, was issued on April 16. It clearly underscores the importance of the Peoples Liberation Army and its pivotal role in the economic development and growth of China. Its military rise is of concern for India, given its proximity to Pakistan, from where India has faced continuous threats of terrorism and military misadventures. The strategic relationship with Pakistan is evident from the number of joint exercises and training carried out in 2011-12 and economic investments.
The white paper emphasises Chinas peaceful rise and its intent to never seek hegemony But we will surely counterattack if attacked. China now sees itself as a world power that has arrived and it will likely intrude, even if it is not attacked, based on perceived threat or slight. The report says, Chinas security and development are closely connected with the peace and prosperity of the world as a whole. This seems at times to be at odds with its sense of insecurity and the challenges that the report highlights in order to justify its massive military build-up.
The paper says: It is a strategic task to build a strong national defense and powerful armed forces which are commensurate with Chinas international standing and meet the need of its security and development interests. China intends to be a predominant military power in the region, apart from an economic power, which it already is, and will not hesitate to use its armed forces to protect its development interests.
In doing the latter, China is following the footsteps of the United States, which has often used its military ostensibly to promote democracy or to remove dictators; but, more often than not, it has been to protect its strategic economic interests. China will be no different, and wont have pretensions of protecting democracy.
The report says, Security risks to Chinas overseas interests are on the increase. Chinas engagements in countries like Sudan, Libya, Pakistan and Myanmar, and the Indian Ocean, have increased the risks its overseas assets face, and are driven by economic interests in mineral and natural resources and trade routes. Earlier this year, Pakistan transferred the operational control of the strategically located Gwadar port to China.
It is clear that Chinas military spend will continue to rise as it develops its strategic capabilities and firepower, both in terms of conventional warfare and information technology for cyber-espionage and cyber-warfare. Its perceived fears are of US hegemony in Asia, and threats to its territorial integrity, particularly from Taiwan and Japan. India has reasons to be concerned given the contentious border issue.
The white papers of 2010 and 2012, (this author has not read the previous papers) make it clear that Chinas political and military leadership are well integrated, although the 2012 paper does not mention the Chinese Communist Party (the 2010 paper established the Partys supremacy in the command structure).
In contrast, India lacks a strategic direction. Its military might has not been used to further its economic interests, and there is no evidence of such thinking among the political class. In fact, there have been signs of growing tension between the military leadership and the political class, particularly during the tenure of VK Singh as the army chief, and, more recently, the controversial non-defence helicopter deal involving former Air Force chief SP Tyagi.
A Domestic Defence Industry
Asia has become one of the largest defence markets in the world. India has the second largest number of active military personnel after China, a defence budget of nearly $50 billion, and is the worlds largest importer of defence equipment. For any large military equipment manufacturer and exporter, India is an important market and will remain so.
The process of procuring military equipment, however, has been a very long one, and often mired in controversies. Allegations of corruption have often stalled decision making and harmed the strategic interests of India as reputed global vendors have been blacklisted. India has also failed to develop a domestic supply base and Russia has remained its primary source of defence supplies. Although defence procurement is being opened up for the private sector, it is painfully slow. This, while Chinas dependence on foreign sources has reduced.
The Economist says, The defence industrial sector, dominated by the sprawling Defence Research and Development Organisation (DRDO), remains stuck in state control and the countrys protectionist past. According to a recent defence-ministry audit, only 29 percent of the products developed by the DRDO in the past 17 years have entered service with the armed forces. The organisation is a byword for late-arriving and expensive flops.
Link - Why China’s Growing Military Should Concern India | idrw.org
Chinas latest white paper on defence, a once-in-two-year exercise, was issued on April 16. It clearly underscores the importance of the Peoples Liberation Army and its pivotal role in the economic development and growth of China. Its military rise is of concern for India, given its proximity to Pakistan, from where India has faced continuous threats of terrorism and military misadventures. The strategic relationship with Pakistan is evident from the number of joint exercises and training carried out in 2011-12 and economic investments.
The white paper emphasises Chinas peaceful rise and its intent to never seek hegemony But we will surely counterattack if attacked. China now sees itself as a world power that has arrived and it will likely intrude, even if it is not attacked, based on perceived threat or slight. The report says, Chinas security and development are closely connected with the peace and prosperity of the world as a whole. This seems at times to be at odds with its sense of insecurity and the challenges that the report highlights in order to justify its massive military build-up.
The paper says: It is a strategic task to build a strong national defense and powerful armed forces which are commensurate with Chinas international standing and meet the need of its security and development interests. China intends to be a predominant military power in the region, apart from an economic power, which it already is, and will not hesitate to use its armed forces to protect its development interests.
In doing the latter, China is following the footsteps of the United States, which has often used its military ostensibly to promote democracy or to remove dictators; but, more often than not, it has been to protect its strategic economic interests. China will be no different, and wont have pretensions of protecting democracy.
The report says, Security risks to Chinas overseas interests are on the increase. Chinas engagements in countries like Sudan, Libya, Pakistan and Myanmar, and the Indian Ocean, have increased the risks its overseas assets face, and are driven by economic interests in mineral and natural resources and trade routes. Earlier this year, Pakistan transferred the operational control of the strategically located Gwadar port to China.
It is clear that Chinas military spend will continue to rise as it develops its strategic capabilities and firepower, both in terms of conventional warfare and information technology for cyber-espionage and cyber-warfare. Its perceived fears are of US hegemony in Asia, and threats to its territorial integrity, particularly from Taiwan and Japan. India has reasons to be concerned given the contentious border issue.
The white papers of 2010 and 2012, (this author has not read the previous papers) make it clear that Chinas political and military leadership are well integrated, although the 2012 paper does not mention the Chinese Communist Party (the 2010 paper established the Partys supremacy in the command structure).
In contrast, India lacks a strategic direction. Its military might has not been used to further its economic interests, and there is no evidence of such thinking among the political class. In fact, there have been signs of growing tension between the military leadership and the political class, particularly during the tenure of VK Singh as the army chief, and, more recently, the controversial non-defence helicopter deal involving former Air Force chief SP Tyagi.
A Domestic Defence Industry
Asia has become one of the largest defence markets in the world. India has the second largest number of active military personnel after China, a defence budget of nearly $50 billion, and is the worlds largest importer of defence equipment. For any large military equipment manufacturer and exporter, India is an important market and will remain so.
The process of procuring military equipment, however, has been a very long one, and often mired in controversies. Allegations of corruption have often stalled decision making and harmed the strategic interests of India as reputed global vendors have been blacklisted. India has also failed to develop a domestic supply base and Russia has remained its primary source of defence supplies. Although defence procurement is being opened up for the private sector, it is painfully slow. This, while Chinas dependence on foreign sources has reduced.
The Economist says, The defence industrial sector, dominated by the sprawling Defence Research and Development Organisation (DRDO), remains stuck in state control and the countrys protectionist past. According to a recent defence-ministry audit, only 29 percent of the products developed by the DRDO in the past 17 years have entered service with the armed forces. The organisation is a byword for late-arriving and expensive flops.
Link - Why China’s Growing Military Should Concern India | idrw.org
