Here's a nice piece in the WSJ about how India's Agni-V test has blown away China's smokescreen:
http://online.wsj.com/article_email/SB10001424052702303592404577361530776399376-lMyQjAxMTAyMDIwNDEyNDQyWj.html?mod=wsj_share_email
An improved military is not the only tool Indians are using to grapple
with China. While remaining open to expanded investment and commerce,
Indians have been treating China's officials to a degree of candor
seldom heard from senior Obama administration officials. Narendra Modi,
the popular center-right chief minister of the prosperous Indian state
Gujarat, was blunt on a trade-focused mission he undertook to China last
November. Despite India's "look east" economic policy, Mr. Modi
nonetheless condemned Chinese military cooperation with Pakistan, claims
Beijing makes on Indian territory and Chinese detention of Indians from
his state without trial—allegedly for running a ring to smuggle
diamonds from Hong Kong.
2 comments:
Attaining the technical ability is a welcome development.
However, technological development is quite distinct from
strategic posture and a doctrinal willingness to use these systems when necessary. It is highly questionable if India, in particular its civilian government as it exists - possesses the will to use these weapons, even in the face of grave provocations. Therefore, technological capability alone does not serve as a deterrent to hegemonistic bullies such as China.
No matter how much Nehruvians shrink away from confrontation with China, it is the Chinese who will bring confrontation, whether we like it or not. Therefore we need deterrents like Agni-V no matter what. But I agree, we need to reform politics to get better leadership, which is essential.
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