From the Managing Editor

Over the past few years, the Journal of Defence Studies (JDS) has alternately covered specific themes and articles of interest on varied subjects. The previous issue—October 2012—of JDS was devoted to 1962 India-China War, on the occasion of the 50th year of the event. This issue covers a number of thematic topics on internal security, naval and air warfare, nuclear terrorism, China’s military modernization, and the logistics support agreement with USA. It is our endeavour to reach out to our esteemed readers with analyses on matters of importance which have, or will have, a bearing on India’s national security.

In this issue, in ‘China’s “Anti-ship Ballistic Missile” Based Anti-access Concept: Implications of a Southward Re-orientation’, K.K. Agnihotri discusses the Chinese efforts towards actualization of the ‘offshore defense’ concept, which entails the conduct of campaigns in distant waters, strategic deterrence and counterattacks, which has an inherent risk of confrontation with other maritime forces, particularly the US. Agnihotri discusses in-depth China’s Anti-access and Area Denial (A2AD) concept, predicated mainly around the DF-21D anti-ship ballistic missiles, to defend itself against overarching US maritime superiority in such a scenario. He argues that the inherently defensive Anti-access concept against the US in the Western Pacific has the potential to transform into an offensive option for the Northern Indian Ocean, should it undergo a southward re-orientation. Situational assessment of such a possibility would provide an insight into the technological challenges which could be posed to the security of the resident Northern Indian Ocean littorals. Agnihotri goes on to suggest that the possibility of such a challenge emerging in future should catalyze a vigorous maritime cooperative endeavour between commonly affected parties operating in the region.