'A new Chapter in the Sino-Indian Dynamic?’
In remarks reported last week, Indian army chief Gen Deepak Kapoor reaffirmed that India was evolving a new military doctrine, outlining some of its key elements. The Army is now revising its five-year-old doctrine to effectively meet the challenges of a possible `two front war' with China and Pakistan, 
deal with asymmetric and fourth-generation warfare, and enhance strategic reach and joint operations with IAF and Navy. Dr. Maleeha Lodhi, a leading Pakistani academician and diplomat, notes that under the recent revisions:
* The Indian army is revising its five-year-old doctrine to meet the challenge of war with China and Pakistan.
* The development of the "cold start" strategy is progressing "successfully."
* Five "thrust areas" will determine the new doctrine:
i) Dealing with the eventuality of a "two-front" war.
ii) Countering "both military and non-military facets of asymmetric and sub-conventional threats."
iii) Enhancing "strategic reach and out-of-area capabilities" to protect India's interests from the Persian Gulf to the Malacca Strait.
iv) Attaining "operational synergy" between the three services.
v) Achieving a technological edge over adversaries.
According to Dr. Lodhi the emerging doctrine appears to be both aspirational and emulative. Aspirational because its breadth and sweep reflects a mindset that seeks to create "big power" dynamics by projecting India as a rival to China and aiming to develop a capacity to act in two combat theatres simultaneously. She further notes that the doctrine also emulates the US Pentagon's Quadrennial Defence Review undertaken every four years and borrows superpower language to assert the need to build "out of area" capabilities and acquire "strategic reach", quoting it as ‘the most presumptuous tenet of the doctrine which employs the idiom of big powers without, however, the capability to back it’.
Another analyst notes The mentioning of China in Indian chief statement is a mere indication to West and US that now India is ready to take a role of regional power a counter against communist China.
Over the years a Chief irritants to the Sino-Indian relationship have been a continuing border dispute. At the security front India is also conc
erned by China's burgeoning defense expenditure, its building of infrastructure along the border, and its "string of pearls" strategy of setting up naval bases in the Indian Ocean. According to one Indian analyst India is now taking steps -- albeit belatedly -- to strategically counter the stark military asymmetry with China in the eastern sector.
On the other hand China has its own strategic concerns, particularly the fact that India is being courted by the U.S. in a strategy aimed at forging a regional alliance comprising India, Japan, Australia and the U.S. This week Army chief General Deepak Kapoor will be visiting Myanmar, a country with which India has ramped up diplomatic as well as military ties to counter China's deep strategic inroads there. With the revised Indian defence doctrine where Pakistan has been prompt in its response, describing India's reported move as 'betraying hostile intent' and reflecting a 'hegemonic and jingoistic mindset'. The People's Republic of China has not come out so far with any official reaction on the subject.
An Indian analyst D S Rajan comments that it is interesting to note that the same theme of India's 'two front war', worded a bit differently as 'two front mobile warfare' has figured in an in-depth authoritative Chinese evaluation of India's defence strategy, done as early as November 2009. Titled 'Great Changes in India's Defence Strategy -- War objective shifts to giving China importance, while treating Pakistan as lightweight', the analysis contributed by Hao Ding, a researcher of the Chinese Academy of Military Sciences, published in the Party-affiliated Chinese language organ, China Youth Daily, on November 27, 2009, identifies five shifts that have taken place in India's defence strategy:
'In terms of goals, India now aims at becoming a global military power in contrast to its earlier objective to acquire a regional military power status'. 'From the point of view of strategic guidelines the 'active defence' concept has replaced the old line of passive defence’. India is stressing on taking initiatives so as to be able to conduct a hi-tech 'limited conventional war' against the enemy 'under conditions of nuclear deterrence'.
The write-up says that in 21st century, India has done a reassessment of the military threats coming from Pakistan and China. It considers that in comparison to Pakistan, China is politically stable with a fast developing economy, a continuously accelerating military modernization drive and growing comprehensive national strength. Therefore, the potentials of 'China threat' to it are on the rise.
In matters of strategic deployment, India has shifted to a strategy of stabilizing the western front and strengthening the northern front as well as giving equal emphasis to land and sea warfare, in contrast to the earlier stress only on land warfare.
A recent Chinese assessment by an analyst under the title 'Panoramic View of International Military Situation in 2009', the analysis contributed by Ma Kang, deputy director, Institute of Strategic Studies, National Defence University, Liberation Army Daily, December 29 highlights the defence budget increases in the US, Russia and India. It points to India's '24 percent defence budget increase' in 2009 as compared to previous year as well as efforts to build an aircraft carrier of its own, launch of first home made submarine Arihant and goals set towards possessing 'three dimensional nuclear strategic capability.'
What stand out are the unmistakable adversarial tones with which the two highly placed Chinese experts have talked about India. What Indian analysts highlight is the apparent dichotomy in the thinking of the civilian and military apparatus in China on relationship with India.
At top-level defense talks in Beijing last week, China and India announced the resumption of their "Hand in Hand" military training exercises in 2011, the first positive news in China-India relations in several months. Quoting what Indian analysts deem as mixed signals from china, they note that it would be in India's interests to continue 'engaging' China. It should at the same time take all necessary steps to protect its strategic interests; whereby they assert India's revised defence strategy proves that it is prepared to do the same.
deal with asymmetric and fourth-generation warfare, and enhance strategic reach and joint operations with IAF and Navy. Dr. Maleeha Lodhi, a leading Pakistani academician and diplomat, notes that under the recent revisions:* The Indian army is revising its five-year-old doctrine to meet the challenge of war with China and Pakistan.
* The development of the "cold start" strategy is progressing "successfully."
* Five "thrust areas" will determine the new doctrine:
i) Dealing with the eventuality of a "two-front" war.
ii) Countering "both military and non-military facets of asymmetric and sub-conventional threats."
iii) Enhancing "strategic reach and out-of-area capabilities" to protect India's interests from the Persian Gulf to the Malacca Strait.
iv) Attaining "operational synergy" between the three services.
v) Achieving a technological edge over adversaries.
According to Dr. Lodhi the emerging doctrine appears to be both aspirational and emulative. Aspirational because its breadth and sweep reflects a mindset that seeks to create "big power" dynamics by projecting India as a rival to China and aiming to develop a capacity to act in two combat theatres simultaneously. She further notes that the doctrine also emulates the US Pentagon's Quadrennial Defence Review undertaken every four years and borrows superpower language to assert the need to build "out of area" capabilities and acquire "strategic reach", quoting it as ‘the most presumptuous tenet of the doctrine which employs the idiom of big powers without, however, the capability to back it’.
Another analyst notes The mentioning of China in Indian chief statement is a mere indication to West and US that now India is ready to take a role of regional power a counter against communist China.
Over the years a Chief irritants to the Sino-Indian relationship have been a continuing border dispute. At the security front India is also conc
erned by China's burgeoning defense expenditure, its building of infrastructure along the border, and its "string of pearls" strategy of setting up naval bases in the Indian Ocean. According to one Indian analyst India is now taking steps -- albeit belatedly -- to strategically counter the stark military asymmetry with China in the eastern sector.On the other hand China has its own strategic concerns, particularly the fact that India is being courted by the U.S. in a strategy aimed at forging a regional alliance comprising India, Japan, Australia and the U.S. This week Army chief General Deepak Kapoor will be visiting Myanmar, a country with which India has ramped up diplomatic as well as military ties to counter China's deep strategic inroads there. With the revised Indian defence doctrine where Pakistan has been prompt in its response, describing India's reported move as 'betraying hostile intent' and reflecting a 'hegemonic and jingoistic mindset'. The People's Republic of China has not come out so far with any official reaction on the subject.
An Indian analyst D S Rajan comments that it is interesting to note that the same theme of India's 'two front war', worded a bit differently as 'two front mobile warfare' has figured in an in-depth authoritative Chinese evaluation of India's defence strategy, done as early as November 2009. Titled 'Great Changes in India's Defence Strategy -- War objective shifts to giving China importance, while treating Pakistan as lightweight', the analysis contributed by Hao Ding, a researcher of the Chinese Academy of Military Sciences, published in the Party-affiliated Chinese language organ, China Youth Daily, on November 27, 2009, identifies five shifts that have taken place in India's defence strategy:
'In terms of goals, India now aims at becoming a global military power in contrast to its earlier objective to acquire a regional military power status'. 'From the point of view of strategic guidelines the 'active defence' concept has replaced the old line of passive defence’. India is stressing on taking initiatives so as to be able to conduct a hi-tech 'limited conventional war' against the enemy 'under conditions of nuclear deterrence'.
The write-up says that in 21st century, India has done a reassessment of the military threats coming from Pakistan and China. It considers that in comparison to Pakistan, China is politically stable with a fast developing economy, a continuously accelerating military modernization drive and growing comprehensive national strength. Therefore, the potentials of 'China threat' to it are on the rise.
In matters of strategic deployment, India has shifted to a strategy of stabilizing the western front and strengthening the northern front as well as giving equal emphasis to land and sea warfare, in contrast to the earlier stress only on land warfare.
A recent Chinese assessment by an analyst under the title 'Panoramic View of International Military Situation in 2009', the analysis contributed by Ma Kang, deputy director, Institute of Strategic Studies, National Defence University, Liberation Army Daily, December 29 highlights the defence budget increases in the US, Russia and India. It points to India's '24 percent defence budget increase' in 2009 as compared to previous year as well as efforts to build an aircraft carrier of its own, launch of first home made submarine Arihant and goals set towards possessing 'three dimensional nuclear strategic capability.'
What stand out are the unmistakable adversarial tones with which the two highly placed Chinese experts have talked about India. What Indian analysts highlight is the apparent dichotomy in the thinking of the civilian and military apparatus in China on relationship with India.
At top-level defense talks in Beijing last week, China and India announced the resumption of their "Hand in Hand" military training exercises in 2011, the first positive news in China-India relations in several months. Quoting what Indian analysts deem as mixed signals from china, they note that it would be in India's interests to continue 'engaging' China. It should at the same time take all necessary steps to protect its strategic interests; whereby they assert India's revised defence strategy proves that it is prepared to do the same.
Discussion Question:¨ Is the revamped Indian strategy too ambitious in its approach or is it a balanced assessment of a swiftly evolving regional dynamic?
Bibliography/ Related Sources:
1. http://www.asiantribune.com/news/2010/01/14/cold-start-indian-threat-pakistan-china
2. http://gokunming.com/en/blog/item/1317/china_india_military_drills_back_on_for_2011
3. http://www.upiasia.com/Security/2009/09/04/chinas_military_advantage_over_india_vanishing/9317/
4. http://www.indiadaily.com/editorial/21245.asp
5. http://thecurrentaffairs.com/contemplating-a-rationale-for-general-deepak-kapoor.html
6. http://timesofindia.indiatimes.com/india/Eye-on-China-Army-chief-on-Myanmar- visit/articleshow/5107164.cms
7. http://timesofindia.indiatimes.com/india/Army-reworks-war-doctrine-for-Pakistan-China/articleshow/5392683.cms
8. http://www.time.com/time/magazine/article/0,9171,1931739,00.html
9. http://www.time.com/time/world/article/0,8599,1697595,00.html?iid=sphere-inline-bottom
10. http://news.rediff.com/column/2010/jan/07/how-china-views-indias-new-defence-doctrine.htm
11. http://www.daily.pk/why-china%E2%80%99s-ignores-india-and-its-new-%E2%80%98military- doctrine%E2%80%99-14334/
12. http://www.thenews.com.pk/print1.asp?id=216861
1. http://www.asiantribune.com/news/2010/01/14/cold-start-indian-threat-pakistan-china
2. http://gokunming.com/en/blog/item/1317/china_india_military_drills_back_on_for_2011
3. http://www.upiasia.com/Security/2009/09/04/chinas_military_advantage_over_india_vanishing/9317/
4. http://www.indiadaily.com/editorial/21245.asp
5. http://thecurrentaffairs.com/contemplating-a-rationale-for-general-deepak-kapoor.html
6. http://timesofindia.indiatimes.com/india/Eye-on-China-Army-chief-on-Myanmar- visit/articleshow/5107164.cms
7. http://timesofindia.indiatimes.com/india/Army-reworks-war-doctrine-for-Pakistan-China/articleshow/5392683.cms
8. http://www.time.com/time/magazine/article/0,9171,1931739,00.html
9. http://www.time.com/time/world/article/0,8599,1697595,00.html?iid=sphere-inline-bottom
10. http://news.rediff.com/column/2010/jan/07/how-china-views-indias-new-defence-doctrine.htm
11. http://www.daily.pk/why-china%E2%80%99s-ignores-india-and-its-new-%E2%80%98military- doctrine%E2%80%99-14334/
12. http://www.thenews.com.pk/print1.asp?id=216861
________________________________________________________
Business and Politics in the Muslim World (BPM)refers to the project entitled, "Globalized Business and Politics: A View from the Muslim World.' The blog development project has been undertaken and developed jointly by the Gilani Research Foundation and BPM as a free resource and social discussion tool.
Please Preview your comments before posting.
Business and Politics in the Muslim World (BPM)refers to the project entitled, "Globalized Business and Politics: A View from the Muslim World.' The blog development project has been undertaken and developed jointly by the Gilani Research Foundation and BPM as a free resource and social discussion tool.
Please Preview your comments before posting.
No comments:
Post a Comment