The Indian government has reportedly learnt that Sri Lanka has permitted another Chinese attack submarine to dock at a Lankan port in spite of India’s strong reservations about a Chinese nuclear submarine at the Colombo port in September. The second docking is reportedly likely to take place very soon.
The news of a second Chinese submarine docking in Sri Lanka comes days after the visit of Vietnam Prime Minister (PM) Nguyen Tan Dung to India and in complete disregard of India’s message to Lankan Defence Secretary Gotabaya Rajapaksa expressing serious reservations about the Colombo docking on September 15.
This Colombo stop for the sub in September came while President Pranab Mukherjee was touring Vietnam and when Indian and Chinese troops were locked in a face-off at Chumar in southeastern Ladakh. China later said the sub had docked in Colombo on its way to the Gulf of Aden.
The presence of Chinese submarines across Palk Straits has disturbed the Indian government which is making another call to Lankan authorities, this time to convey strong displeasure.
The Chinese fleet of submarines, both diesel and nuclear-powered (of which three can fire ballistic missiles), represent some of Beijing’s most offensive military capabilities and have been the focus of international media when one of them propelled through Indian Ocean waters for the first time earlier this year, making its way to the Persian Gulf, a foreign news outfit reported Sunday.
In a recent report, Wall Street Journal described the Chinese submarine fleet as Beijing’s most significant military challenge in the region. The fleet’s presence at Lankan ports brings alive some of New Delhi’s worst fears of China’s expanding presence in Indian neighbourhood.
Chinese naval development is the indication that India is never going to be regional power as long as China is present with its strong and expanding military domain. This is a shut up call to Indians who have always found to be obsessed with its two three Russian donated nuclear submarines.
LOL 🙂
Being sustaining hegemony of India from so long, Sri Lanka made a very courageous and diplomatic measure to contain the Indian aggression towards its regional smaller state. It extending hands of cooperation with China on naval is an alarming signal for India. Although, India tries to exert its influence on Sri Lanka not to move forward with China but country follows which suits it best. China is an impeding danger between the lines for India. It is the best mechanism to address or contain Indian hegemony in the region.
As it becomes more mature and self-confident, the People’s Liberation Army Navy (PLAN) in recent years has held exercises at sea with increased frequency, and further out in the West Pacific. In 2012 alone, it held seven such drills beyond the first island chain, with surface ships and submarines often passing through channels that lie close to the disputed areas. It is clear warning to India that aspires to make Indian ocean as Indian lake. Chinese growing presence in Indian oceans shows its intentions to neutralize Indian hawkish moves.
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