Chinese aggression in the South China Sea region has raised eyebrows in New Delhi. Recent satellite images released by Airbus Defence and Space show that China has made rapid progress in building an airstrip suitable for military use in the contested territory of Spratly Islands in the South China Sea. Chinese moves have been greeted with concern not only in India but also in the United States.
The satellite images published in mid-March this year clearly show work in progress on the runway on reclaimed parts of Fiery Cross Reef in the Spratly archipelago, which China contests with the Philippines, Vietnam, Malaysia, Brunei and Taiwan.
These images also indicate that reclamation work on Subu Reef in the Spratly archipelago is creating landmasses that, if joined together, could create space for another 3,000-meter (3,281-yard) long airstrip.
It is not just India, but also the United States, which is keeping a tab on these developments. The US military commander for Asia, Admiral Samuel Locklear said China, which claims most of the South China Sea, could eventually deploy radar and missile systems on outposts it is building, that could be used to enforce an exclusion zone should it move to declare one.
China’s aggressive posture in the South China Sea is fuelling regional apprehensions. Vietnam, Malaysia, Indonesia, Brunei, Taiwan, South Korea, Philippines, Singapore, and even Australia and Japan are anxious.
South China Sea region is a strategic waterway that is imperative for Delhi's Asia-Pacific outreach as well as energy investments. India is in the process of ramping up engagement across economic spheres in the ASEAN region, including oil blocks in Vietnam in the SCS region. Delhi is looking to boost its presence in the Asia-Pacific region following PM Narendra Modi's visit to three small but strategically significant Indian neighbors.
China’s recent activity in the South China Sea is not the only matter of concern for the Indian authorities. Its naval strength is more than that of India. China is well aware of the fact that the Indian Ocean has some of the busiest sea lanes globally. China’s 80 per cent business flow is through the Indian Ocean. The Indian Navy has a strong hold on this part of the ocean. The developments in Spratly Islands are also seen as a pressure tactic by China.
China has already hinted that the islands could be used to safeguard China’s national sovereignty in future and that there is nothing wrong with using military force to protect one’s national sovereignty when it is threatened by other nations.
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