TIME FOR A REALIGNMENT OF NAVY'S FORCE COMPOSITION

With the changing nature of warfare and the dynamics in the Indo-Pacific, it is essential to reassess the emerging scenarios, tech advancements and realign the force composition. These will ultimately vector Delhi towards threat perceptions and platform imperatives (increase or induction thereof), argues SHEKHAR SINHA

- SHEKHAR SINHA

The nomenclature Indo-Pacific as against Asia-Pacific was coined after a statement made by the then US Secretary of State, Hillary Clinton. US coined this terminology possibly due to the emerging geopolitics of the region and the emerging dynamics in the Indian Ocean with an imprint of the South China Sea (SCS). Thus far Chinese activism in the South China Sea was limited to disputes between ASEAN and China. While the U.S. remained preoccupied with GWOT (Global War on Terrorism), ISIS and now Ukraine, the Chinese economic and military might turn overbearing on smaller nations in the region. They largely obeyed the diktat of the Chinese without questioning its legitimacy, particularly on the issues of freedom of navigation and sovereignty of islands except for occasional grumbling. In the recent past, China has gone too far in exercising her claims to sovereignty by reclaiming over 2000 acres (8.1 sq km) in the SCS. China has exercised a slow and deliberate strategy of acquiring and building artificial islands, and maritime features by coercion and many times by force. Blockade of Taiwan from all sides and in a recent incident PLA Coast Guard ship ramming into a Philippines supply ship engaged in support operation within its own EEZ near Second Thomas Shoal has sent shockwaves amongst ASEAN armed forces.

China has built a 3000 Metres runway on the Fiery Cross Isle by reclaiming almost 1 sq km, giving her the ability to operate all types of aircraft IE Y 20 transport, J 10 and J 11 fighters from the Spratlys. The reclamation in the northern part of Spratlys has given China another 3.95 sq km reef which is adequate for a 3000 metre runway. This has provided her two long runways in north and south of Spratley, thus bolstering its ability to more stringent enforcements. vis a vis less capable nations of the ASEAN and curtailing the freedom of navigation of countries transiting in and out of SCS. This is a confrontationist challenge.