China was very complacent when India
was under the European and the U. S. sanctions after the Pokhran I and
the Pokhran II nuclear explosions. All high-tech doors were shut on
India. India was reeling under heavy technological suffocation. Post
9/11, the BJP- led India govt. supported the U. S war on terror. It also
supported the U.S National Missile Defense program. Thus India strongly
indicated a visible policy shift. Then the Bush administration
displayed its sincerity by allowing Israel to sell India the most
advanced AWACS, the Phalcon system. More secret Indo-Israeli joint
projects in the military followed. India steadily advanced in the fields
of electronic warfare and radar technology. In the fields of missiles
and UAVs the two countries began to collaborate extensively. Israel
swiftly began to outperform Russia in the defense market. China was
worried. Besides the Green Pine radars landed in India. These are
important components of missile defense system. Thus Israel with its own
and borrowed American technology became a cause of headache for China.
Besides
Indo-Israeli military space collaboration unnerved China. India
launched the Israeli reconnaissance satellite Tecsar which is said to
monitor Iran’s nuclear preparedness. Then India, perhaps bought the
RISAT 2 from Israel which with its Synthetic Aperture Radar can function
24X7 through day and night, light and cloud.
Again
India’s recent space success which has strong military connotation has
sent china in a tizzy. India’s success in making the earth –imaging
Indian version of the Google Earth, Bhuban, which might uncover the
Chinese territory can expose Chinese military installations and hence
endanger their existence. Besides India’s development of a GPS version
for the sub-continent, Indian Regional Navigational Satellite system,
could also be of military help. Besides India’s missile defense system
could be linked with the Russian GLONASS which would help India hitting
any target with pin-point accuracy. Again Indo-US space co-operation
could lead India to use American GPS for military purposes. India’s own
military space program seemed to have got a start with the Aerospace
cell. Further, after the signing of the TSA, Indo-US space co-operation
seemed to have got a right start. Besides the under-development GSLV
Mark III could help India build space station. Again the Indian
declaration that it has A-sat capability worries China.
Besides,
India’s mega defense projects such as nuclear subs, aircraft carriers
including the yet to be leased Gorshkov have worried China. With the
launch of the first indigenous nuclear submarine, India already has
displayed its capability. Besides Indian success in making the reactor
for the nuclear sub has opened the possibility of a nuclear-propelled
aircraft carrier which can cover a longer distance with a higher
endurance. India’s plan of equipping at least five of its nuclear
submarines with 5000KM SLBMs has pushed china to consider the effective
counter-strategy.
India is
reportedly going to test fire its 5000KM Agni V ballistic missile in the
next year. This would cover all the important cities of China. This has
increased the Chinese sense of insecurity a lot.
As
China depends on its missile battery the most rather than on its
inferior air force, India’s success in its homegrown missile defense
program in both exospheric and endospheric tests has pushed China to
reconsider the efficacy of its missiles.
India’s
proposed buy of 126 multi-role fighters is seeing a world-wide
competition and the US has proposed even to sell the F-18 Super Hornets,
which if India buys, will increase the power of the Indian air force
manifold.
The futuristic
Indo-Russia joint 5th Gen Stealth Fighter has the potential to fox the
Chinese air force. China cannot get such aircraft either from Russia or
from the EU countries. This aircraft would be far more superior to the
SU-30 aircraft which China possesses.
Besides
the infallible Indo-Russian supersonic Brahmos cruise missile poses
serious threat to China’s army, navy and air force. It has all the
versions- air, land, water etc. Besides the Indian govt. has approved
the R&D of the hypersonic Brahmos which would be perhaps of 1000KM
range. The air force and naval of this missile can be dangerous. Hence
China is seriously worried.
The
US’ proposed help to India in its Super-Soldier program has worried
China. Besides if India succeeds to build the Drones or UCAVs with
either the US or the Israeli help, Chinese security can be endangered.
Finally,
India’s defense relationship with Israel, France, Russia and the
increasing Indo-US defense co-operation, post EUMA has cornered China.
Furthermore India’s own efficacy in software and space technology could
prove to be a lethal mix for China. So China wants to unleash a
psychological warfare against India out of insecurity. India has to
innovate its strategy, move forward and if the situation demands, give
China a befitting reply.