Prashant Kumar Singh replies: India does not perceive any immediate threat in terms of an attack from China. Presently though, China is engaged in ‘infrastructural intimidation’ on the border and assertion of its claim over many Indian territories. In the security field, we see a growing Chinese presence around India. Its provocative military presence in Pak-Occupied-Kashmir is the latest example in this regard. India also has immediate concerns regarding use of disruptive technologies by China which may impinge on our cyber and space security. Besides, India suspects that China is using Pakistan as proxy to implement some of its own strategic designs against India.

It is debatable whether China has succeeded in undermining India’s interests and reducing its global and regional influence? China’s opposition to NSG waiver to India, its ambiguous stand on India’s entry into the UNSC, its earlier reservation about India’s entry into East Asia Summit and its opposition to ADB loan for a project in Arunachal Pradesh in India, its claim over entire Arunachal Pradesh in last couple of years and its decision to issue stapled visas to Indian citizens of Jammu and Kashmir (J&K) all are pointers towards its intention to do so.

The current war of nerves between India and China will remain limited only to diplomatic domain in the short-term. However, India needs to be extremely cautious in dealing with China.

R. N. Das replies: The question is asked at a time when the both India and China are actively engaging and there is a political understanding between the two Prime Ministers to resolve all the difficult issues including the border dispute which continues to be the constant source irritation between the two countries. Going to war is not an easy option when even the big powers, nay, the one and only super power is trapped in a quagmire in Afghanistan and is desperately trying to wriggle out. In todays globalised world, China and India are mutually interdependent. It would be imprudent on part of China to think of a war against India.. Having said this I must hasten to add that there should not be any complacency about our defence preparedness to face any kind of challenge. War can take different form in modern times besides conventional and nuclear war, there can be cyber-war, and economic war also. India needs to be prepared in all these fronts to face with any kind of eventuality. Despite the prevailing threat perceptions emanating from China, the two states are closely working on confidence-building measures, and there is increasing political engagement at the highest level.

R. N. Das replies: China’s buildup at the border and in the Indian Ocean region is certainly a matter of concern for India, which has been articulated at the highest level. In recent past there has been a perceptible infrastructural development across the border in China and also China’s engagement in the Indian Ocean, particularly in Sri Lanka where China is building a port at Hambantota, ostensibly for civilian purposes which however can have strategic implications on India’s security. It is only appropriate, on part of India to take measures to beef up its defence preparedness so as to meet eventualities, if any. There are, however, a slew of confidence building measures (CBMs) between the two countries to defuse tension, and maintain and tranquility in the border, but going by India’s past experience of 1962 war, it would be imprudent to neglect defence preparedness . There can not be any room for complacency in matters of national security, territorial integrity and sovereignty. No doubt India spends a better part of its budgetary allocation for defence of the country, which is to increase further, but it would be presumptuous to say that it can lead to sort of bankruptcy. Ours is a resilient economy which has withstood many a crises in the past including the oil crisis and more recently the word financial crisis.