Geopolitics

The Challenge of China
Star Rating Loader Please wait...
Issue Book Excerpt: Threat from China | Date : 11 Feb , 2012

—- The whole situation thus raises a number of problems on which we must come to an early decision so that we can, as I said earlier, formulate the objectives of our policy and decide the method by which those objectives are to be attained. It is also clear that the action will have to be fairly comprehensive, involving not only our defence strategy and state of preparations but also problem of internal security to deal with which we have not a moment to lose. We shall also have to deal with administrative and political problems in the weak spots along the frontier to which I have already referred.

It is of course, impossible to be exhaustive in setting out all these problems. I am, however, giving below some of the problems which, in my opinion, require early solution and round which we have to build our administrative or military policies and measures to implement them.

  • A military and intelligence appreciation of the Chinese threat to India both on the frontier and to internal security.
  • An examination of military position and such redisposition of our forces as might be necessary, particularly with the idea of guarding important routes or areas which are likely to be the subject of dispute.
  • An appraisement of the strength of our forces and, if necessary, reconsideration of our retrenchment plans for the Army in the light of the new threat.
  • A long-term consideration of our defence needs. My own feeling is that, unless we assure our supplies of arms, ammunition and armour, we would be making our defence perpetually weak and we would not be able to stand up to the double threat of difficulties both from the west and north-west and north and north-east.
  • The political and administrative steps which we should take to strengthen our northern and north-eastern frontier.
  • Improvement of our communication, road, rail, air and wireless, in these areas and with the frontier outposts.
  • The policy in regard to the McMahon Line.—”

What is indeed remarkable is that the contents of this letter have not lost their relevance even today. The analysis was cogent and the recommendations astutely formulated. Sadly they were not acted upon. What is even more noteworthy is the enduring wisdom the letter contains. Ironically most of the recommendations remain valid even today.

Our response to the potential threat from China has to be multi dimensional with the military being given overriding importance. If we are militarily inadequately manned armed and equipped the undergirding to our security will inevitably be extremely fragile”¦

The other comment that can be made with some justification is that our political leadership for most of our independent history seems to have been bereft of pragmatism and a resolve to do whatever is necessary to secure and advance our national strategic interests. The frequently offered argument in defense of the establishment –that India is an extremely complex country to govern is not a good enough excuse for the drift that we have witnessed in the context of the numerous security concerns that have bedeviled us over the last six decades.

Our response to the potential threat from China has to be multi dimensional with the military being given overriding importance. If we are militarily inadequately manned armed and equipped the undergirding to our security will inevitably be extremely fragile; there is only so much that diplomacy and dialogue can achieve. Alignments, cooperative arrangements, economic engagement have their role to play and must form part of the comprehensive strategy that we pursue. But these will gather adequate traction only if our defense apparatus poses a credible deterrence.

Our military machine has perennially faced a few problems. The first and perhaps the most important is the poor communication between the political leaders and the military. The political leadership is comfortable with the bureaucracy and prefers to deal with the defense officers through them. Unless this changes our defense capability will never be optimized. Both the political leadership and the military must introspect in this matter.

1 2 3 4
Rate this Article
Star Rating Loader Please wait...
The views expressed are of the author and do not necessarily represent the opinions or policies of the Indian Defence Review.

About the Author

Lt Gen Vinay Shankar

Lt Gen Vinay Shankar, former Director General Artillery.

More by the same author

Post your Comment

2000characters left