VIDEO: Great Powers of Asia
Wednesday 8 April 2015/ Hour 1, Block A: Scott Harold, RAND Center for Asia Pacific Policy, in re: India's defence minister in Beijing on annual defense dialogue, incl Chinese incursions into India and the southern seas. Indian Ocean Basin: one of many very contentious issues betwixt the two. Thought that China will surround India, put operational ships in the Indian Ocean; and China's relations with Indian neighbors, esp Pakistan (China is selling subs to them) & smaller – Sri Lanka. India's Arihont sub will soonest start sea trials; China will try to even the score with subs to Islamabad. Pakistan's sponsorship of terrorism inside India, also the possibility of a nuclear exchange. Moscow sees India as a major market for its defense industries; China wonders where those will be used? Unlikely that there'll be a grand strategic triad, but they help spell the BRICs. If Beijing avoided irritating New Delhi, the US could be out of the picture; but since China has decided to give India a hard time, the US is an important component. Note US-India-Japan & US-India-Australia amities. China sells subs to Pakistan - to encircle India. Russian press: China's nuclear attack subs