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On November 4, India and the United States and the warships and military aircraft of four other countries began their annual military exercises in the Bay of Bengal. Previous reports said that India deployed warships in the South China Sea to participate in collective efforts to contain China. Analysis believes that India’s “empowerment action” appears to reflect new strategic thinking.
Japan, Australia, India and the United States, known as the four most powerful democracies in the Indo-Pacific region, conducted a joint Malabar military exercise in the Bay of Bengal. This exercise was seen by many reports and comments as a strong signal for China.
When the border confrontation between China and India was tense, news emerged that India had sent warships to the South China Sea. British media reported that the entry of Indian warships into the South China Sea indicated that India intends to further expand its alliance with the United States.
In October, India invited Australia to participate in the annual Malabar military exercise in the Indian Ocean, further strengthening the presence of this alliance. The Malabar exercise began in 1992 and was initiated by India and the United States. Japan joined as a partner country in 2015.
This year Australia rejoined the Malabar exercise after a 13-year hiatus. After Australia announced its participation, the country’s Defense Minister Linda Reynolds called the exercise a milestone.
Jagannath Panda, an analyst with the Asian Maritime Transparency Initiative (AMTI) at the United States Center for Strategic and International Studies, published an article in July saying that the four countries are forming an Indo-Pacific maritime security alliance to tackle the China’s challenge to change the status quo.
What does China contain in the South China Sea?
Although the official has not issued a formal statement on the deployment of Indian warships in the South China Sea, this move is seen as India’s intention to take a tougher stance against Beijing.
Pravin Sawhney, an Indian veteran and editor-in-chief of the military magazine “Force”, told the BBC Chinese reporter that the Indian warships are only doing communication exercises and do not have the capabilities in the South China Sea.
Solny said that US Secretary of State Pompeo and Defense Secretary Esper recently visited India. After the United States and India signed a major defense treaty, the two countries have become de facto military allies.
Under this defense agreement called Shared Geospatial Data (BECA), India will obtain satellite data on the terrain, navigation and aerospace industry of the Indian Territory. Indian media reported that this data is very important to improve missile accuracy and drone use.
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During their visit to India, Pompeo and Esper met with Indian Prime Minister Modi and also spoke with India’s national security adviser Ajit Doval.
India’s national security adviser Doval said in a report in The Times of India recently that “we are fighting in our own territory and also in the enemy’s territory.” Many Indian commentators believe that his new strategic thinking reflects India. The government’s new intention is to use preventive measures to contain threats.
Speaking of the actual Himalayan border line of control, Dorval said that India does not take the initiative to attack, but new strategic thinking can actively contain threats. “We don’t have to fight where the other side wants. India can bring war to the birthplace of the threat.” Some people call his proposal “Dovalism”.
Nitin Pai, director of the Takshahira Institute, an Indian think tank, expressed similar views when speaking about India’s involvement in the South China Sea to contain China. He believes that the Indian government has now broadened its vision, not only focusing on the real line of control of territorial disputes.
Pei told the “Financial Times” reporter, “The signal (from India to China) means: Do not cause trouble in our backyard, otherwise we will do the same to you.” He also said: “Himala Ya’s security depends on the eastern Straits of Malacca.”
The Indian think tank analyst said: “If you cannot solve the problem in one region, you must expand the region.”
Pravin Solny is not impressed. He said this so-called “Dovalism” is to announce his intentions before he has the ability. He also objected to the view that the border issue is linked to the South China Sea, saying that the settlement of border disputes has nothing to do with the South China Sea.
Change strategy for India?
Liu Zongyi, general secretary of the Center for China and South Asia Studies at the Shanghai Institute of International Studies, wrote on the Observer website that India and the United States have signed a series of military treaties, forming a de facto military alliance. He believes that India has broken the tacit agreement between India and China not to allow territorial disputes to affect economic cooperation, and China needs to change its strategy towards India.
On October 23, China’s top leader Xi Jinping made a strong statement in a speech at the “Commemorative Gathering of the 70th Anniversary of the Chinese People’s Volunteers to Fight the United States and Help Korea.” Xi Jinping warned that “Any act of hegemony, hegemony or intimidation will never work! … In the end, it must be a dead end!”
Xi Jinping’s harsh remarks have received wide media attention, with Indian media even considering it to be a gunpowder-filled warning issued by the Chinese leader to the United States, Taiwan and India. But Pravin Solney, an Indian military commentator, believes that Chinese leaders are primarily issuing warnings against the United States.
Solny said that many Indian analysts spoke of fighting deep behind enemy lines following a Dovalist approach. Yet PLA strives for smart mechanization, computerization, and operations by 2027, and is ready to compete with the United States. The People’s Liberation Army may be ready to face the Indian army in 2023. The Sino-Indian war that broke out at that time was not a war of attrition but a war of occupation.