Admiral Lanba’s comments would come as little surprise, given that the meeting between the two leaders saw no assurances from Beijing that it would tone down its military activities. Exploiting ‘economic weaknesses’ in debt-laden countries such as Dijbouti, Sri Lanka, Nepal, Pakistan and the Maldives, Beijing’s deep pockets has ensured that India has been effectively encircled. That this can serve as both a threat and an effective warning was seen during the Maldivian crisis when 11 Chinese warships sailed into the IOR in February in a not so subtle message to India — stay out. The ‘war at sea’ is not just relegated to the Indian Ocean and not just relegated to India. The US kept a close watch last month in April as China carried out live-fire drills in the South China Sea.

Source: dna May 07, 2018 21:11 UTC