India's bid to promote security

[mizzima@xxxxxxxxxxxxxxxx]

--------------263737FFA92CCFF73BBFB094
Content-Type: text/plain; charset=iso-8859-1
Content-Transfer-Encoding: 8bit

                     India?s bid to promote security

The Hindu (New Delhi)
May 18, 2001

By Atul Aneja

NEW DELHI, MAY 17. Aware of the high economic and political stakes
involved, India is making a vigorous effort to promote stability in the
strategic Bay of Bengal area. According to highly-placed government
sources, India is making a special effort to ensure that the commercial
shipping lanes in the Bay of Bengal which head towards the Strait of
Malacca remain safe. The Strait of Malacca is the narrow passage which
takes ships into the South-East Asia?s commercial heartland. The strait
which funnels through Indonesia and Malaysia is a principle artery at
the heart of eastwest trade.

Its strategic importance is obvious, for a denial of access to the
Malacca straits can seriously impede international trade. Not
surprisingly, India is exploring ways to ensure that the entry to this
strait is kept open at all times and circumstances. New Delhi is,
therefore, trying to ensure that all the three possible channels from
its waters which converge towards the Malacca strait are kept open.

The 10 degree channel is one such passage. This deep sea channel divides
the Andaman islands from the Nicobar group, and is one of the principle
gateways to the Malacca strait.

The Malacca strait can also be accessed through the six degree channel
defined by India Point, the southernmost tip of the Nicobar group and
Banda Aceh in Indonesia. Yet another route lies between the mouth of the
Irrawady in Myanmar and the northern edge of the Andamans.

India has decided in principle to set up a tri-service Far Eastern
Command in the Andamans and Nicobar. That would mean that more armed
forces personnel will be available for a division which is approximately
one-third the size of a command currently deployed in the Andamans.
Keeping a watch over the sea lanes will be the key objective of this
command. All the three services will participate in this surveillance
exercise, but the role of the Navy and the Indian Air Force (IAF) is
likely to be enhanced. Port Blair and the Car Nicobar islands have been
identified as the key launch pads. In fact, the IAF has decided to
establish a full-fledged air base in the Car Nicobar islands from where
strike as well as air defence missions can be launched.

Naval aircraft will also keep a watch over the sea. The Navy?s TU-142
maritime surveillance planes currently fly regularly from Arakkonam in
Tamil Nadu for surveillance. Their reach, however, will be enhanced if
they can operate from India?s island territories of the Andamans and
Nicobar. Sources, however, point out that the induction of a new
aircraft carrier will greatly enhance India?s surveillance capability in
this zone.

Three key objectives appear to have guided India?s decision to enhance
its military profile in the Bay of Bengal.

First, India has taken a policy decision to reach out to the
neighbouring south-east Asia. Besides trade, India views countries such
as Myanmar, Bangladesh and Vietnam, which are rich either in gas, oil or
both, as part of its future energy security calculus. India also sees
the development of its north-east region integrated to the larger
sub-regional cooperation involving its eastern neighbours.

Not surprisingly, India is promoting the Bay of Bengal Grouping which
also involves Bangladesh, Sri Lanka, Myanmar and Thailand (BIMSTEC).
Besides, it is considering acquiring greater physical access in the
region by carving out new land routes, especially through Myanmar.

Possible competition from the Chinese in the Bay of Bengal has also
prodded India?s interest in this area. Indian defence planners are
carefully observing the security spin-off of China?s great western
development plan. That involves the development of its Yunnan province.
With Kunming, Yunnan?s capital, as the region?s transport and energy
hub, China is now developing land corridors, airports and river ports in
all directions, including the South.

Specifically, with Myanmar as the focus, the Chinese are also trying to
reach to the Irrawady River as the gateway to the Bay of Bengal. Aware
of this development, India is attempting to acquire some strategic space
in Myanmar and the recent inauguration of road from Manipu towards
Mandalay in Myanmar appears to be a step in this direction.



--------------263737FFA92CCFF73BBFB094
Content-Type: text/html; charset=iso-8859-1
Content-Transfer-Encoding: 8bit

<!doctype html public "-//w3c//dtd html 4.0 transitional//en">
<html>

<center><b><font color="#0000FF"><font size=+2>India?s bid to promote security</font></font></b></center>

<p><b><font color="#990000"><font size=+1>The Hindu (New Delhi)</font></font></b>
<br><b><font color="#990000"><font size=+1>May 18, 2001</font></font></b>
<p><b><font size=+1><font color="#990000">By </font><font color="#333300">Atul
Aneja</font></font></b>
<p><font size=+1><b><font color="#990000">NEW DELHI, MAY 17.</font></b>
Aware of the high economic and political stakes involved, India is making
a vigorous effort to promote stability in the strategic Bay of Bengal area.
According to highly-placed government sources, India is making a special
effort to ensure that the commercial shipping lanes in the Bay of Bengal
which head towards the Strait of Malacca remain safe. The Strait of Malacca
is the narrow passage which takes ships into the South-East Asia?s commercial
heartland. The strait which funnels through Indonesia and Malaysia is a
principle artery at the heart of eastwest trade.</font>
<p><font size=+1>Its strategic importance is obvious, for a denial of access
to the Malacca straits can seriously impede international trade. Not surprisingly,
India is exploring ways to ensure that the entry to this strait is kept
open at all times and circumstances. New Delhi is, therefore, trying to
ensure that all the three possible channels from its waters which converge
towards the Malacca strait are kept open.</font>
<p><font size=+1>The 10 degree channel is one such passage. This deep sea
channel divides the Andaman islands from the Nicobar group, and is one
of the principle gateways to the Malacca strait.</font>
<p><font size=+1>The Malacca strait can also be accessed through the six
degree channel defined by India Point, the southernmost tip of the Nicobar
group and Banda Aceh in Indonesia. Yet another route lies between the mouth
of the Irrawady in Myanmar and the northern edge of the Andamans.</font>
<p><font size=+1>India has decided in principle to set up a tri-service
Far Eastern Command in the Andamans and Nicobar. That would mean that more
armed forces personnel will be available for a division which is approximately
one-third the size of a command currently deployed in the Andamans. Keeping
a watch over the sea lanes will be the key objective of this command. All
the three services will participate in this surveillance exercise, but
the role of the Navy and the Indian Air Force (IAF) is likely to be enhanced.
Port Blair and the Car Nicobar islands have been identified as the key
launch pads. In fact, the IAF has decided to establish a full-fledged air
base in the Car Nicobar islands from where strike as well as air defence
missions can be launched.</font>
<p><font size=+1>Naval aircraft will also keep a watch over the sea. The
Navy?s TU-142 maritime surveillance planes currently fly regularly from
Arakkonam in Tamil Nadu for surveillance. Their reach, however, will be
enhanced if they can operate from India?s island territories of the Andamans
and Nicobar. Sources, however, point out that the induction of a new aircraft
carrier will greatly enhance India?s surveillance capability in this zone.</font>
<p><font size=+1>Three key objectives appear to have guided India?s decision
to enhance its military profile in the Bay of Bengal.</font>
<p><font size=+1>First, India has taken a policy decision to reach out
to the neighbouring south-east Asia. Besides trade, India views countries
such as Myanmar, Bangladesh and Vietnam, which are rich either in gas,
oil or both, as part of its future energy security calculus. India also
sees the development of its north-east region integrated to the larger
sub-regional cooperation involving its eastern neighbours.</font>
<p><font size=+1>Not surprisingly, India is promoting the Bay of Bengal
Grouping which also involves Bangladesh, Sri Lanka, Myanmar and Thailand
(BIMSTEC). Besides, it is considering acquiring greater physical access
in the region by carving out new land routes, especially through Myanmar.</font>
<p><font size=+1>Possible competition from the Chinese in the Bay of Bengal
has also prodded India?s interest in this area. Indian defence planners
are carefully observing the security spin-off of China?s great western
development plan. That involves the development of its Yunnan province.
With Kunming, Yunnan?s capital, as the region?s transport and energy hub,
China is now developing land corridors, airports and river ports in all
directions, including the South.</font>
<p><font size=+1>Specifically, with Myanmar as the focus, the Chinese are
also trying to reach to the Irrawady River as the gateway to the Bay of
Bengal. Aware of this development, India is attempting to acquire some
strategic space in Myanmar and the recent inauguration of road from Manipu
towards Mandalay in Myanmar appears to be a step in this direction.</font>
<p>&nbsp;</html>

--------------263737FFA92CCFF73BBFB094--