The top brass of the Navy will meet in
the commander’s conference in Delhi starting Tuesday to discuss and
devise India’s response to the growing presence of Chinese maritime
forces in the Indian Ocean.
The Navy has been concerned over the
increasing presence of Chinese Navy’s submarines and other warships in
the Indian Ocean Region (IOR).
In a recent report submitted to the
Defence Ministry, the Integrated Defence Staff headquarters had informed
the Government quoting the data by American agencies that 22 encounters
of Chinese submarines have taken place outside its territorial waters
in the IOR.
China has also been successful in
establishing its presence in ports around India including Chittagong in
Bangladesh, Sittwe and Coco Island in Myanmar, Hambantota in Sri Lanka
and Gwadar in Pakistan, which gives it capability to stay close to
Indian waters from all sides in a ‘string of pearls,’ a line of ports
from China to the Gulf that could facilitate expansion of the Chinese
Navy in the Indian Ocean. That has sparked concern in both the US and
India.
China’s interest is driven by concerns
about energy security as it seeks to fuel its booming economy. It wants a
place to anchor pipelines to secure oil and gas supplies from the Gulf.
Beijing also believes that aiding development in these countries will
boost economic activity in its far western province of Xinjiang and
dampen a simmering, low-intensity rebellion there.
In the conference to be inaugurated by
Defence Minister A K Antony, the Navy will also discuss cases of
indiscipline faced by the force.
In recent times, several Navy officers
have faced allegations of wife swapping and stealing the affection of
brother officer’s wife.
One senior officer posted on-board
prestigious INS Virat aircraft carrier was dismissed by the force for
sending lewd messages to several women using multiple SIM cards and
mobile phones.
The top brass of the force is also
expected to discuss the delay in the induction of the aircraft carrier
INS Vikramaditya, which is being retrofitted in Russia and has been
delayed due to mishaps in its boiler.
Source : Niti Central
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