July 11, 2020
India is rattled by China's military might
By Syed Rifaquat Ali
China's hegemony in various territorial segments of Ladakh is worrying the government of the Indian Prime Minister Narendra Modi much to the dismay of its 1.3 billion people.
A slew of Chinese here in Sydney told this correspondent in an informal confabulation that in 1962 India-China war, we retreated from Assam to show goodwill gesture.
This time, we will capture the entire disputed region in the Eastern part of India without showing any mercy. The situation in Ladakh today is very, very tense and explosive amid the building of troops by India, China, Pakistan, and to some measure Nepal.
Defense and political analysts are playing musical chair about the military strength of China and India since both the countries are on the verge of a bloody war.
A comparative study of the military strength of India and China shows that China is far, far superior to India militarily. The Tank strength of China is 3200, while India has 4200 Tanks.
The Naval assets of China are 777 to India's 285. China has 74 Submarines to India's 16. China has 36 Destroyers to India's 11. China has 3210 Aircrafts to India's 2123. (China has two times the number of fighters and Interceptors than India). China has 507 Serviceable Airports to India's 346.
China has 33,000 Armoured Fighting Vehicles to India's 8,600.
China's Military outlays is $261 billion to India's $71.5 billion.
China has 2650 Rocket Projectors to India's 266. China has Manpower Active Personnel 21,83000 to India's 14,44000. China has 4182 Aircrafts to India's 2216.
China has 1150 Fighter Aircrafts to India's 323. China has 629 Multirole Aircraft to India's. 329. China has 270 Attack Aircrafts to India's 220. China has 1170 Helicopters to India's 725.
According to Stockhlom International Peace Research Institute (SIPRI), the military expenditure figures of China's defence spending in 2019 amounted to USD 232 billion. India's budget for 2020 amounted to USD 66.9 billion ( Rs.4,71,378 crore).
The induction of additional troops and creation of a new habitat for the army's effective deployment, including equipment and logistics, will involve massive expenditure at a time when defence budgets have already been pruned because of the pandemic should be a matter of great concern for India.
Says former Maj.-Gen. A.P.Singh: The increase in troop and equipment numbers along the world's highest battlefield will impose a phenomenal logistic cost and a tremendous load on the army.
The army will have to undertake purchases at inflated prices before winter. India-China confrontation apart, Pakistan is another thorn in the flesh of India.
Colluding with China, Pakistan too is amassing troops in Baltistan. Early this week, Pakistan deployed 20,000 army personnel in Baltistan to counter India's clandestine plan to capture Baltistan which is in Pakistan-occupied Kashmir.
It seems Pakistan has secretly colluded with China to corner India in Ladakh if there is a war. In that case, India will have to fight on two fronts which could tilt the balance in favor of China.
Another factor which is disturbing India is the Chinese threat of cyber war. The Chinese are highly advanced in terms of technology and India ought to be wary of it. Man power will not matter much in case there is a war today.
The country which has the most sophisticated and lethal weapons will have the upper hand.
And China is right in the forefront in such a scenario. Make no mistake to assess China's capability since the country has scientifically and technologically advanced by leaps and bounds during the last three decades.
In a nutshell, India faces a daunting task in Ladakh to counter Chinese aggression and Pakistan's threat.
Syed Rifaquat Ali is Sydney-based correspondent.
The Journal of America Team:
Editor in chief:
Abdus Sattar Ghazali
Senior Editor:
Prof. Arthur Scott
Special Correspondent
Maryam Turab
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