TAMING THE DRAGON,PART-2

In a significant geopolitical move, India has finally accepted the overt and covert intentions of China to counter its rise in Asia and the world at large as ''real'' and ''imminent''. Recently Chief of army staff General VK Singh described China and Pakistan as “two major irritants” and advocated for augmentation of the country’s war capabilities.

” We cannot take chances; the (Chinese) intentions need to be looked at, along with this additional military capabilities that is coming up. It impacts the way we will task our army”

Before that, in a bold move intended to counter the “strings of pearl” strategy of China, highly placed government officials made it public, the fact that India will, in the near future increase its ties with ASEAN and other neighbouring countries, under its "look east policy".

http://www.hindustantimes.com/rssfeed/india/India-for-Asean-alliance-to-counter-aggressive-China/Article1-612589.aspx

 After the lukewarm response to the Washington backed “axis of democracy” strategy by Australia, to counter the rise of Chinese navy in the Indian Ocean. India has decided to walk the extra mile in building closer economic and military ties with Japan, South Korea and Vietnam, which have tense relations with China.

While, on the one hand China is courting SAARC countries aggressively with huge investments in Pakistan, Sri lanka and Nepal. It’s but natural for India to pay the Chinese dragon with the same coin. Although, no country wants or can afford a second cold war between the two most populous and fastest growing economies of the world. But, it’s a fact that to counter China, which is increasingly gaining military muscles due to the increased role and significance of its military i.e PLA in their internal politics, a proportionate counter balance in the form of India, Japan and South Korea is not only desirable, but also necessary.