China's increasing assertiveness in East and Southeast Asia, its projection of military might in the Indian Ocean and on the Tibetan plateau are continuously causing concern about its real intention towards India, the former national security adviser said.
China's increasing assertiveness in East and South East Asia, its projection of military might in the Indian ocean and on the Tibetian plateau are continuously causing concerns about its real intention towards India, former national security adviser MK Narayanan said today.
Concerns do exist about China's intentions towards India. China's obsession with becoming the dominant economy and military power in Asia and beyond will become an issue, if it has not already, as Beijing nears its objective, Narayanan, who was also India's special representative in border talks with China, said.
Speaking on 'India in the 21st century' as part of the 'Rajagiri -in pursuit of Excellence lecture 2010' here, he said India must be prepared for a broad range of external challenges as its capabilities grow and stake in the international system increases.
"The most obvious would be efforts made by certain countries to restrict our growth potential and influence. Countries like China and Pakistan figure prominently in this category", he said.
China's efforts at establishing economic suzerainty across South East, South and parts of central Asia, its growing military capabilities and the 'lip and teeth' relationship it had established with Pakistan were already matters of concern, Narayanan, West Bengal governor, said.
India is interested in the stablity of Paksitan and in maintaining a reasonably satisfactory relationship with that country. But the nature of Pakistan's establishment, dominated as it is by its military, continues to employ terrorism as an instrument of state policy and permits its territory to be used by terrorists to attack Indian targets, he said.
The November 26, 2008, terrorist attack on serveral targets in Mumbai was a classic example of 'Pakistan's perfidy', he added.
Pakistan has also been 'highly obstructive' as far as some of the neighbours, especially Afghanistan, are concerned. "It also continues to stregthen its military, nuclear and missle capabilities projecting a so-called threat to Pakistan's existence from India", Narayanan said.
However, he noted that despite India's 'troubled' relationship with China in the past and the border dispute no doubt remains to be settled, both sides have made attempts to improve their relation in the recent years, he said.
Both countries have embarked on a policy of constructive engagement. China is already India's biggest trading partner and both countries have a strategic and cooperating partnership and jointly drew up a shared vision for the 21st century.
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