With eyes on China, India to conduct a slew of Naval and Military Drills this year: have a look!

China as a threat to the present World Order

Never in History before, the Pax Americana - a world order set and dominated by the US - has been threatened like China is now. Yes, there was the Cold War with Russia, but the West could limit the influence of the USSR by blocking its access to warm waters and the failing economy of Russia took care of the rest. Unlike Russia, China has grown into an economic giant and is using the money to power its military. Moreover, it has border conflict - both land and maritime - with all the neighbouring countries including India.

 
Indian Combat Exercises: Amid Indo-China Rivalry

China: an adversary to India

Russia and US are far, China is at the border! Undoubtedly India has a lot to think about the growing influence and territorial ambitions of China. With 38,000 square km of Indian territories already occupied by China (Aksai Chin) and the Chinese ambition to disrupt and dominate the Indian Ocean region, India can't afford to sit quietly. We have to take measures - both economic and military - to counter China and its sinister plans threatening both our interests and territorial integrity.

Conducting combat exercises - land, naval, and air - with friendly and like-minded countries is one such measure.

Benefits of Combat Exercises

  • India has lined up a series of combat exercises such as the Malabar quadrilateral naval wargames off Japan, infantry exercises with Australia and three Asian countries, and high-altitude warfare drills with the US near the Line of Actual Control (LAC).
  • These exercises will take place by the end of this year itself and send strong symbolic as well as strategic signals to China.
  • Moreover, such exercises help the country strengthen its military preparedness, and plug strategic loopholes. Let's have a look at all these exercises scheduled this year

QUAD cooperation

  • Obvious by the name itself, QUAD navies will participate in this drill which will happen off the coast of Yokosuka in Japan from November 8 to 18.
  • The maritime drill will be a part of the Malabar Exercise where Multiple Warships, submarines, fighters, aircraft and helicopters will participate.
  • It is expected to send a strong signal to China that any "coercion" in the Indo-Pacific region will be deadly.

US Strategy

Earlier this month, the new national security strategy (NSS) of the US said China was its only competitor with both the "intent and capability" to reshape the international order. "As India is the world's largest democracy and a major defence partner, the US and India will work together, bilaterally and multilaterally, to support our shared vision of a free and open Indo-Pacific," it added.

The Himalayan Flashpoint: A probable conflict point between India and China

  • India shares a 3,500 km long mountainous border with China and this might be the conflict flashpoint between the two Asian giants.
  • And rightly so, the Indian army is focussing on mountain warfare drills.
  • The battalion-level 'Yudh Abhyas' exercise between the Indian and US armies will be held at Auli in Uttarakhand, barely 100 km from the LAC with China, from November 15 to December 2.
  • This comes shortly after the elite Special Forces of the two countries conducted the 'Vajra Prahar' exercise at Bakloh in Himachal Pradesh in August.

Naval Exercises India is conducting this year

  • The second region under direct Chinese threat is obviously the seaways: the South China Sea and the Indian Ocean region.
  • China wants to monopolize the influence in this region as a bargaining chip in the event of any hostilities with the west.
  • India and the rest of the QUAD are dead against this. Apart from a conflict in the Himalayas, maritime hostilities in the Indian Ocean region with China seem probable in near future.
  • With this in mind, India is conducting several naval drills in the Indian Ocean with friendly countries. The one currently in progress is SIMBEX with Singapore.
  • 29th Singapore-India Maritime Bilateral Exercise, SIMBEX is taking place in the Bay of Bengal off the coast of Visakhapatnam from 26 to 30 October 2022.
  • Apart from the naval exercise, the 2 nations will soon also be engaged in a land exercise namely 'Agni Warrior' at Deolali from November 13 to November 30.

Other Land Exercises planned this year for the Indian Army:

The Indian Army will also undertake the 'Harimau Shakti' exercise in Malaysia from November 28 to December 13 and the 'Garud Shakti' in Indonesia from November 30 to December 15.

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