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India seeks to prevent skirmishes with China on high seas NEW DELHI: With both India and China in the hunt for the same strategic space in the Indian Ocean Region (IOR), New Delhi would like a Cold War-style of mechanism to ensure the competition does not escalate into conflict on the high seas. The protocol to prevent skirmishes at sea could mirror the new Sino-Indian land border mechanism to prevent flare-ups along the 4,057-km Line of Actual Control, which would have been finalized in November if the Dalai Lama episode had not derailed talks between national security adviser Shiv Shankar Menon and his Chinese counterpart Dai Bingguo. An arrangement, like the hotline between DGMOs of armies, for tackling incidents at sea does make sense, said Navy chief Admiral Nirmal Verma on Friday in the run-up to Navy Day on Sunday. The government is considering such a protocol, especially with countries with which misunderstandings can erupt, he added. India and Pakistan have a two-decade-old agreement that holds their warships and submarines will stay three nautical miles apart from each other to avoid any accident while operating in international waters. While de-escalatory mechanisms with China are required, India needs to keep its powder dry for all eventualities in the future. Towards this end, a brand new multi-dimensional Navy with reach and sustainability is in the offing with over 150 warships and close to 600 fighters, maritime patrol aircraft, helicopters and drones, said Admiral Verma. Back |
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