Navy Chief Admiral Karambir Singh mentioned on Wednesday that India has noticed common presence of Chinese Navy within the Indian Ocean Region over the previous decade.
Speaking on the Raisina Dialogue, Singh mentioned, “As far as if they will move in the Indian Ocean Region, we have seen a regular Chinese naval presence in the Indian Ocean Region for over a decade now.”
He mentioned China seems to be west for its vitality, markets and sources, “so it won’t be surprising that soon they would be coming into the Indian Ocean Region”, as a result of “flag follows trade”.
On the event of China’s navy and a 3rd plane provider, Singh mentioned, “We are not surprised by the pace of Chinese Navy development. They have their wherewithal, they have the intent.”
He mentioned China has a fleet of assist ships to accompany its plane carriers. “The point is very clear that their intention is to replicate something of the Carrier Battle Groups that US Navy has. They have nearly all the components in place,” he mentioned. However, he mentioned, “the most important thing that they will have to develop is the competence and capability of their carrier air wing, which takes time”.
US Navy has been working carriers because the World War, whereas India too has had it for 60 years. “But I think the Chinese are moving quickly,” Singh mentioned.
Admiral Phillip Davidson, commander of US Navy’s Indo-Pacific Command, who was additionally a part of the dialogue, mentioned, “Our relationship with India remains one of Indo-Pacific Command’s highest priority.” He known as India a “vital partner in strengthening the security and stability” within the area. “A strong US-India strategic partnership is indispensable for peace, prosperity and security in the Indo-Pacific,” he mentioned.
Speaking about China, Davidson mentioned the Communist Part of China promotes a “drastically different system” for governance, commerce and human rights, and “China’s approach to the region includes efforts to coerce, corrupt and co-opt governments, businesses, organisation and ultimately the people of the Indo-Pacific”. “An emboldened Communist Party of China seeks to exploit the current global pandemic with increased military aggression throughout the Indo-Pacific,” he mentioned.
