Though truth is bitter sometimes, but we have to digest it.
Everyone knows that China itself is growing so fast both economically and militarily. It will catch up US( so far the largest economic and military nation) sooner than later.
A point that is worthy enough is that the relations between US and China always tend to be a roller coaster ride.US itself never considers any other country at the same level of fame ,even its NATO partners. IT always shows this big brother attitude and dominates others. This China un-expected rising is a big migraine for US.Aslo if one goes by what history has told us and to go by US foreign policy and its strategy,it always drags in as many nations for a war against other country.This has numerous implications and benifits from a US point of view. it firstly consolidates the losses and bringing in more nations means more pressure against that country(on which the war is being waged).
In the current scenario,if every thing is played well, its a good catch for US against China.China pretty much have all enemies surrounded by its border except NOKO(a fissile state) and Russia which always looks at things suspiciously and looks for benifit of monetary worth.
Given that nations like US,Japan,Aus,India,Vietnam,Philipines, SOKO,.....everyone is cautious and critical about chinese military rise agressiveness might give it a shot if it has to bring china down together.Here we are confronting a nuclear power,obviously the game wont be a easy win. Hence you have to initiate troubles in all possible likelihoods and have to go for a assymetric war.Which itself avoids direct confrontation. This supporting of nations which have issues with china is part of the well designed assymetric war against china. No one wants to be bombed by nukes on both sides and this game will continue to be skirmishing and confronting at different tables sort of irritating the agressor(China).
When it comes to India playing against China, it has its own reasons. Hence lending a small support for the main team will do no harm.India venturing into south-china sea is a long term objective designed decades ago. The friendly relations with Vietnam and providing nuclear know-how is a part of its bonding agreement. Vietnam though offered its bases for stationing of IN warships, India was too cautious of the plan.
Its also worth to mention that we are been ruled currently by the lamest and dumbest governments ever, which dont have the right balls, the present moves by IN has to be treated with a base line tag.
But we should take pride in those strategist who already laid a plan of making Nicobar a strategically im[portant military base.Though not let into public,Nicobar will host a battle group by 2017 and submarines(mostly SSK) along with navalised MKI or PAKFA for maritime operations. This alone points to the fact that how important the control of malacca straits is and the sucession of venturing into pacific.
IF India is capable of taking control of whole IOR which currently rests with US along side, That day I will say India is a military power.For that purpose we have to go by the actual plan of inducting 5 CBG`s by 2025 and allied supporting ships and SSNs.