Posted on 02/01/2012 9:47:00 AM PST by James C. Bennett
WASHINGTON: Noting that India is increasingly getting concerned about China's posture on its border, a top US intelligence official on Wednesday said that the Indian Army is strengthening itself for a "limited conflict" with China.
"Despite public statements intended to downplay tensions between India and China, we judge that India is increasingly concerned about China's posture along their disputed border and Beijing's perceived aggressive posture in the Indian Ocean and Asia-Pacific region," director of national intelligence James Clapper said in his prepared testimony before the Senate Select Committee on intelligence.
"The Indian Army believes a major Sino-Indian conflict is not imminent, but the Indian military is strengthening its forces in preparation to fight a limited conflict along the disputed border, and is working to balance Chinese power projection in the Indian Ocean," he said.
India, Clapper said, has expressed support for a strong US military posture in East Asia and US engagement in Asia. He said China in 2011 appeared to temper the assertive behavior that characterised its foreign policy the year before, but the internal and external drivers of that behavior persist.
"Moreover, although Chinese leaders have affirmed their commitment to a peaceful and pragmatic foreign policy - and especially to stable relations with China's neighbours and the rest of the world - Beijing may take actions contrary to that goal if it perceives that China's sovereignty or national security is being seriously challenged," he said.
Many of Beijing's military capability goals have now been realised, resulting in impressive military might.
Other goals remain longer term, but the Chinese army is receiving the funding and political support to transform it into a fully modern force, capable of sustained operations in Asia and beyond, he said.
Pei-Ping.
I wonder if this guy knows any other secrets he wouldn’t mind sharing?
Limited conflicts between nuclear powers don’t stay limited.
Good one. Rivals 'limited war'.
—but the Chinese army is receiving the funding —
Hey, where did they get that “funding”?
;)
What I find interesting is that the Press Trust of India is able to circumvent Indian censorship by using the public domain statements of Mr. Clapper.
Even the “limied war” between the PRC and Viet Nam in 1979 was pretty dmaned costly.
Even the “limied war” between the PRC and Viet Nam in 1979 was pretty damned costly.
The 1962 Sino-Indian War is about the only war I can think of that China has won in the last couple hundred years...(excluding civil wars.)
The DNI can pretty much declassify whatever he wants to.
It’s not even nuclear, I gather this means India plans on being able to hold its own in a border dispute, but they will get overwhelmed in an all out land war. At that point, they probably rely on us and Russia to stop the Chinese.
China won the war in Vietnam in 1969.
Somebody clipped Clapper’s copper clappers.
If India does engage China militarily, the first thing that came to mind was Colonel Potter from MASH: “the Chinese are pouring over the border like the country sprung a leak.”
now the indian pilots, soldiers etc are better armed, trained and prepared, plus they are angry with the Chinese for the 62 defeat -- the Chinese are cocky in comparison.
I think the whole point to build massive conventional strength is to avoid an all out nuclear war. India already has nuclear deterrent, but its definitely not going to be something they are going to be using in a limited border war.
Thanks James C. Bennett.
Disclaimer: Opinions posted on Free Republic are those of the individual posters and do not necessarily represent the opinion of Free Republic or its management. All materials posted herein are protected by copyright law and the exemption for fair use of copyrighted works.