It's About Liberty: A Conservative Forum
Topics => World/Foreign Affairs => Topic started by: charlesoakwood on August 04, 2012, 01:31:55 AM
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Are the String of Pearls being unraveled? Until China completes its canal through Thailand sailing through the Malacca Straits is the route they must take and even after the canal is finished they must traverse the Indian Ocean. This new Indian activity will definitely cause them more angst and will draw more treasure, personnel, and equipment away from the South China Sea the area they so much want to possess.
India Moves to Protect Vital Sea Lane (http://www.ptinews.com/news/2836909_Naval-base-to-open-tomorrow)
New Delhi, Jul 30 (PTI) Aiming to keep an eye on maritime security around the Malacca Straits, a key sea trading route, the Indian Navy will inaugurate a new air base at the southern-most tip of Andaman and Nicobar Islands
(http://www.go2andaman.com/wp-content/uploads/2010/10/location-andaman-nicobar-islands.png)
Naval Base 'INS Baaz' (http://www.defencenews.in/defence-news-internal.asp?get=new&id=1368)
The southern most islands of India are closer to Indonesia than mainland India and will help India gain strategic supremacy in the region. The new base will also boast of an upgraded air base that will be able to operate the newly inducted Hercules C-130J Super Hercules which are meant for special forces' operations.
Link (http://defenceexpress.blogspot.in/2012/07/southern-most-indian-airbase-to-be.html)
The Chinese Navy was expected to enter the IOR (Indian Ocean Region) in 2015. [This has caused] urgency to India’s efforts to bolster its military presence in this archipelago.
“The airbase will be established in Campbell Bay,...
The command has elements of the army, navy and air force as part of its force structure....
Sukhoi SU-30 fighter jets from air bases in the Andaman and Nicobar Islands.
(http://sportscarforums.com/gallery/data/731/SU30_Indian_couple.jpg)
The Shibpur airstrip in north Andamans is also planned to be extended from 3,200 feet to 12,000 feet to support all types of aircraft and night-flying operations. Moreover, new airstrips will come up at Kamorta and Little Andaman, while the existing two main runways at Port Blair and Car Nicobar are also being upgraded to facilitate fighter jet, helicopter and heavy transport plane operations. The plans will be implemented in the next few years.
“Plans are afoot to turn Campbell Bay into ‘Operational Turn-Around Bases’ with better refuelling and communication facilities and augmented force levels,” sources added.
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At least somebody is alert to the Chi-Com threat. Now if we only had someone here willing to cultivate a solid relationship with the Indians...