China: India using Agni-V to increase clout in Asia
BEIJING: The proposed February launch of India's Agni-V missile has ruffled feathers among Chinese policy makers with Communist Party organ, the People's Daily ,saying the move reflects India's "intention of seeking regional balance of power".
It quoted Indian officials and scientists describing Agni-V missile as a "killer" for a "certain country" without mentioning which.
India "cannot tolerate " internal and external security environment constraints that come in the way of its developing military clout, the article said. However, it made no mention of China's massive missile build-up and development of air strike capabilities including the recent launchof an aircraft carrier.
"It is the Indian goal to continue to strengthen the military and possess a military clout that matches its status as a major power," the party mouthpiece said.
The article comes in the wake of remarks by Chinese experts expressing concern about the strengthening India-US relationship in military affairs.
They have voiced concerns about India joining the American game plan of "encircling China" by playing on the grouse of it s sea neighbors like Vietnam, the Philippines and Japan. Beijing has vehemently opposed an ONGC deal for oil exploration in South China Sea that China regards asitsown.
The article in the People's Daily added that India should stop putting too much faith in the new US policy on the Asia Pacific region because "thinking this move will contain its imaginary enemy would be naive". It also said, "India should cooperate with the neighboring countries instead of being hostile to them and reduce its own persecution mania to play a role on the world stage in the future."
The newspaper said, "There is no real winner in wars and peace opportunities must not be wasted". The article recorded Indian official thinking that Agni-V will not pose a threat to any country as India has a policy of never being the first to attack anyone.
1st Indo-Japan-US trilateral talks today
China will be an important topic of discussion when senior officials from India, Japan and US meet in Washington on Monday in the first trilateral dialogue. On focus will also be maritime security and humanitarian assistance for disasters. The Indian team includes two key officials — Javed Ashraf and Gautam Bambawale — while the US team will be led by Kurt Campbell, their assistant secretary for east Asia. Discussions on Indian Ocean, South China Sea etc, will feature in the discussions. The three have an interest in maintaining free sea lanes of navigation in these seas as they are essential for energy flows.
At least the Japanese and Indians are paying attention to China, unlike the current U.S. administration.
All this is just plain empty talk. Japan will never have any military ties with India let alone build a strategic alliance as counter weight to China. Till date there has barely been any military-to-military exchange or any joint army exercise (other then multilateral naval exercise) between India and Japan. Surprisingly India actually has had bilateral naval and military exercise with China....but never with Japan. Japan has been the most vocal opponent to India’s nuclear program. Moreover Japan has much larger trade relations with China to jeopardize that with a military alliance with India. There is nothing of strategic value in Indo-Japanese relation beyond customary lip service. If India is seeking allies in the Asia-Pacific region, she is wasting time chasing Japan. They dont give a hoot about India.