India conscious of Chinese presence in Indian Ocean region

New Delhi, Aug 20 (PTI) India is conscious of the
Chinese presence in the Indian Ocean region and is taking
"adequate measures" to make sure that its neighbourhood is not
threatened, India Minister of State for Defence M M Pallam
Raju Thursday said.

"China being a regional power will make its moves and if
we sense a threat to our internal security we will do some
counter measures," he told reporters here on the sidelines of
homeland security seminar.

However, "we need to give China the benefit of doubt
that they are also in their quest to safeguard their sea lanes
of communication because they have their energy resources
passing through this (Indian Ocean).

"They are taking some steps. We have to make sure that
that it is not intrusive and they will not come into our
space. Towards that end we are conscious of what China is
doing and we are making adequate measures to make sure that
our neighbourhood is not threatened," Raju said.

On Beijing acquiring anti-satellite capabilities for
space-age warfare, he said India was against militarisation
of space.

But space assets would have to be utilised in warfare
in the years to come and India was also preparing itself for
taking adequate counter measures to this Chinese capability,
he said.

"The frontier of space, which includes utilisation of
satellites, will continue to be a growing area of warfare.
India has stated in the past that it is against militarisation
of space. But space assets have to be utilised in warfare in
the years to come and we are also preparing for it to take
adequate counter measures," Raju said.

He also pointed out to the growing trade between the
two Asian giants and said China would not be a problem because
of economic factors.

"The emphasis and focus is on (bilateral) trade, which
is increasing at a rapid rate. Although we share a large
border, we have not had any skirmishes. So I do not see any
reason why they should be a problem on that front. As a
regional power, they will take steps to increase their
military prowess and we will do in our case," he said.

On the nearly USD 140-million US military aid to
Pakistan, with which Islamabad may acquire Predator drones
used by NATO forces in Afghanistan against Taliban, Raju said
when technology was being used for countering Taliban forces,
there was a chance it may fall into wrong hands. "I am sure
they will take adequate steps to prevent this," he added. PTI