Chinese Navy growth fastest in 200 years: Admiral Sunil Lanba

Raising concerns over increased Chinese presence in the Indian Ocean, Chief of Naval Staff Admiral Sunil Lanba said, “At any given time, there are 6-8 Chinese navy ships in the northern part of the Indian Ocean. No navy has grown so rapidly in the last 200 years as the Chinese Navy. They are a force and they are a force which is here to stay.”

The Chinese have added 80 new ships in the last five years, he said. Elaborating further, the Navy chief said, “Since 2008, the Chinese Navy has been a permanent presence in the Indian Ocean region in the form of an anti-piracy escort force. The 31st anti-piracy escort force is present in the Gulf of Aden.”

Two years ago, China had commissioned its first overseas facility in Djibouti. The stated aim of Bejing’s deployment is to protect its trade from piracy in the region. Lanba said that China has “deployed submarines for anti-piracy operations”, which is the “most unlikely platform to be used for this role”.

Lanba, speaking at the Fourth Raisina Dialogue on Wednesday, also expressed concerns over China spending a huge amount on its military. “There is no doubt they are spending a huge sum of money to develop military capabilities. They are modernising the forces, they are modernising command structure,” he said.

A Chinese submarine deployed in the Gulf of Aden since April 2015 undertook replenishment at Karachi in May and July 2015 by transit through international waters. India on its part conducts coordinated patrols and maritime exercises with foreign navies, including those of island countries in the Indian Ocean. India has also been increasing its diplomatic engagement with countries in the Indian Ocean region and under the Indo-Pacific concept, calling for a rules-based approach in the region.