India suspicious as Chinese submarine docks in Sri Lanka

[Kiss_of_the_Dragon]

NEW DELHI: The docking of a Chinese submarine in Colombo on a long-range deployment patrol earlier this month is yet another indicator of the ever-increasing forays of the People's Liberation Army-Navy (PLA-N) in the Indian Ocean Region (IOR).

The PLA-N is fast transforming from a "green-water" force used to operating close to its own shores into a potent "blue-water" force, one with "long legs". Though the Indian Navy has been tracking the increased activity of Chinese warships in the IOR, including submarines quietly on the prowl in the Bay of Bengal, this is a rare instance of a PLA-N submarine openly berthing in the region that India considers its "own strategic backyard".

The diesel-electric Type 039 "Song-class" was at the Colombo International Container Terminal, which has been funded by China, from September 7 to 14. This was just ahead of Chinese President Xi Jingping's visit to Sri Lanka, which along with Maldives has shown enthusiasm for China's new Maritime Silk Route plan in the IOR.

The Chinese government, on its part, said the submarine had only made a replenishment stopover in Sri Lanka on way to the Gulf of Aden for escort and anti-piracy operations, as was the "common practice" for navies around the world.

But China is also testing the new Modi government's resolve both on the land boundaries, which clearly came through during the 16-day troop faceoff at Chumar in eastern Ladakh coinciding with Xi's visit here, as well as in the IOR, as earlier reported by TOI.

China's forging of extensive maritime links with eastern Africa, Seychelles, Mauritius, Maldives, Sri Lanka, Bangladesh, Myanmar and Cambodia, among others, is primarily related to its need to protect its sea lanes for critical energy needs. But it's equally true that it's slowly but steadily amounting to a "strategic encirclement" of India.

Acknowledging that the presence of Chinese warships is on the increase in the IOR, Navy chief Admiral Robin Dhowan this week said, "We continuously monitor them, see what are their deployments, and what challenges they can pose for us...IOR is our area of operations...Our warships, submarines and aircraft are always ready to face any challenge."

That may well be true but insiders fear India's already stark military asymmetry with China only seems to be expanding all the time. India, for instance, has just 13 ageing diesel-electric submarines, only half of them operational at any given time, and a single nuclear-powered submarine, without any strategic missiles, on lease from Russia.

China, in sharp contrast, has 51 conventional and five nuclear submarines. It is also going to soon induct another five advanced JIN-class nuclear submarines equipped with the new 7,400-km JL-2 missiles.

The lack of strategic planning in India, however, ensures that even though force-levels at the Eastern Naval Command at Vizag have shown some upgrade, the crucially-located Andaman and Nicobar Command continues to suffer from neglect. Strengthening of India's last military outpost at the 572-island archipelago would be an effective counter to China's strategic moves in the IOR.

India suspicious as Chinese submarine docks in Sri Lanka - The Times of India
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is this China counter-move tactic over India-Vietnam sugar diplomacy? what is the stage ove India supersonic missile deal with Vietname and the collectif call for the freedom of navigation in SCS? next India should come with their naval vessel to SCS to impress us....we will look forward for such encounter

 

[opruh]

What can India do, they can only watch and be amazed at China's submarines.

 

[IndoCarib]

Whatever ! It is like China coming to our backyard and farting ! We will go on with our oil exploration and defence deals with Vietnam. Bring all your nuclear arsenal, all your air craft carriers , all your subs and park in SL or Pakistan, will not move a tiny rats tail ! We did learm something new during Mr. Xi's visit. Your army is as rogue as Pakistani army. It is not under the control of Xi himself.

 

[Kiss_of_the_Dragon]

Indian Ocean is not Indian's ocean, the present of Chinese sub is to make sure of this.

 

[halupridol]

oooo,,,,we r so scared,,mighty submarine came
but will we stop our deals with Japan,Vietnam,,,dont think so.

 

[IndoCarib]

Indian Ocean is not Indian's ocean, the present of Chinese sub is to make sure of this.

similarly south china sea is not china's sea. you will know when we dig for oil there

 

[opruh]

this move is necessary to protect sri lanka's territorial integrity

 

[NKVD]

Indian Ocean is not Indian's ocean, the present of Chinese sub is to make sure of this.

chinese sub is in boundaries of Sri Lankan sea space what india have to do in this matter as long as they don't violate or claim our water boundaries india is not a concern party here

 

[Kiss_of_the_Dragon]

oooo,,,,we r so scared,,mighty submarine came
but will we stop our deals with Japan,Vietnam,,,dont think so.

You're the only one who know if you're scare or not, we chinese can't read your mind , but why we would like to stop India to cozy with Japan or Vietnam, do we gain anything for doing so??

similarly south china sea is not china's sea. you will know when we dig for oil there

you can dig any oil you want within Vietnam territory, as long as you don't violate our water boundaries than it is not a concern here.

 

[halupridol]

You're the only one who know if you're scare or not, we chinese can't read your mind , but why we would like to stop India to cozy with Japan or Vietnam, do we gain anything for doing so??

but u should know,didnt I already admit my fear,,,we r sooo afraid
as for the underlined part,u asked the question about this submarine being a counter to Indo-Vietnam "sugar diplomacy".....even if it was a counter,still our deals with Vietnam stands,as well as with Japan.
btw why shud I be concerned with ur gain or loss rather then mine.

 

[Kiss_of_the_Dragon]

Whatever ! It is like China coming to our backyard and farting ! We will go on with our oil exploration and defence deals with Vietnam. Bring all your nuclear arsenal, all your air craft carriers , all your subs and park in SL or Pakistan, will not move a tiny rats tail ! We did learm something new during Mr. Xi's visit. Your army is as rogue as Pakistani army. It is not under the control of Xi himself.

We're not only farting but farting out loud that grab your admiral's attention and immediately promt him to said this:

"We continuously monitor them, see what are their deployments, and what challenges they can pose for us...IOR is our area of operations...Our warships, submarines and aircraft are always ready to face any challenge."

And we dont need to bring all our armada into SA, that is just too much, you don't kill a fly with the canon, we only need a subtile respond to deal with India and you can say what ever you want about our army that certain wont do us any harm.

 

[dlclong]

China do what India will no doubt?
Building roads in own country, India also will doubt
No need to bother

Chinese do not like the Indians, looking into Chinese oil in the South China Sea

 

[Kiss_of_the_Dragon]

but u should know,didnt I already admit my fear,,,we r sooo afraid
as for the underlined part,u asked the question about this submarine being a counter to Indo-Vietnam "sugar diplomacy".....even if it was a counter,still our deals with Vietnam stands,as well as with Japan.
btw why shud I be concerned with ur gain or loss rather then mine.

Indian is alway concern about China's gain because we're competitor, of course you would rather to see more about China's loss : by cozying Japan and Vietnam you expect to have some leverage over China's present in SA and expect China to back down to India's demand and which ultimately represent a loss for China but it seems that our gorverment is not taking the bait and accept India geopolitic bargain...the present of the sub is certain a good message to India.

 

[halupridol]

1) Indian is alway concern about China's gain because we're competitor, of course you would rather to see more about China's loss
2) by cozying Japan and Vietnam you expect to have some leverage over China's present in SA
3) expect China to back down to India's demand and which ultimately represent a loss for China but it seems that our gorverment is not taking the bait and accept India geopolitic bargain...
4) the present of the sub is certain a good message to India.

1) wrong,,,,,India is concerned about Indias gain,,, our profit our loss
why shud ur profit or loss mean anything to us,,,as long as it doent undermine our profit,,,we good
2)yes ,also good business.
3)good,so u agree that our relations with Vietnam and Japan will give us leverage,,,,,otherwise these relations shudnt bother China.
ps-Chinese r not the only one good in bargaining u know
4)yup,message recieved.loud n clear.
we still deal with Japan and Vietnam

 

[Shinigami]

the chitrolls should know that india has a very good sub hunting experience. IN even sunk an american made submarine in 1971. the chinese clanky rust buckets which they call "submarines" wont be much of a challenge