An Indian parliamentary panel has highlighted the strengthening China-Pakistan maritime nexus and Beijing’s expanding footprint in the Indian Ocean Region.
The Modi government responded to the concern expressed by the Parliamentary Standing Committee on External Affairs, noting that it was putting up a robust deterrence and surveillance mechanism to counter the imminent threat in the region.
The panel’s Action Taken Report, tabled in parliament last week, is based on a previous ‘Evaluation of India’s Indian Ocean Strategy’, which reviewed the government response to its 32 recommendations.
The committee expressed its concern over China’s fast-growing naval capabilities and increasing warship deployments in the Indian Ocean Region, including submarines and carrier battle groups, focusing mainly on India’s maritime security.
It also looked at China’s strategic infrastructure development under the Belt and Road Initiative in the IOR nations and the ‘String of Pearls’ framework to encircle India.
Highlighting the “continued strengthening” of the China-Pakistan naval partnership, the panel warned of a possible nexus that could alter the regional balance of power and challenge India’s strategic autonomy.
In response to the committee’s recommendations, the Ministry of External Affairs said the government was aware of the security implications of the combined threat and maintained constant surveillance of both Chinese and Pakistani naval deployments.
The MEA noted that India’s operational doctrines were being refined and capability development plans were pursued to address the twin challenge from China and Pakistan.
It listed key platform inductions, including aircraft carrier INS Vikrant, modernisation of the submarine fleet, such as nuclear-powered vessels, and enhancement of anti-submarine warfare capabilities through commissioning of corvettes, P8I maritime patrol planes, and anti-submarine warfare MH-60R helicopters.
Taking note of these measures taken by the government, the committee pushed for fast-tracking the space-based surveillance-III project to ensure real-time maritime domain awareness.
It asked the government for deeper engagement with partner navies through exercises such as the Malabar with Quad navies, Varuna with France, Konkan with the United Kingdom, and RIMPAC with multiple Western navies, and greater cooperation with Indian Ocean littoral nations.
The committee pushed for sustained strategic partnerships and technology-driven surveillance as critical measures to maintain a favourable power balance in the region and counter the growing threat of inimical forces in the region.