China expanding operational deployments in Indian Ocean: Pentagon Report

As per recently released report to US congress by Pentagon "Military and Security Developments Involving the People's Republic of China 2013" China is steadily spreading its wings in the Indian Ocean Region (IOR) with its rapidly-growing Navy being equipped with advanced nuclear submarines, destroyers and frigates as well as training for long-range deployments.

Highlights of report regarding China’s operational deployments in Indian Ocean:

• China is expanding military arsenal in this oceanic region that might consist of long-range missiles, armed drones and stealth fighters to potent nuclear, space and cyber warfare capabilities.
• India has remained neutral on this issue and does not want to be dragged into the ongoing geopolitical jostling between the US and China, especially in the new 'Great Game' unfolding in the crucial Asia-Pacific region.
• People's Liberation Army Navy (PLA) continues to expand its operational and deployment areas further into the Pacific and Indian Oceans but is somewhat restricted as of now by its limited logistical and intelligence support, especially in the IOR.
• China desires to expand its access to logistics in IOR and will likely establish several access points in this area in the next 10 years. These arrangements will take the form of agreements for refueling, replenishment, crew rest and low-level maintenance.
• India has tried to belatedly counter China's moves to assiduously forge maritime links with eastern Africa, Seychelles, Mauritius, Maldives, Sri Lanka, Bangladesh, Myanmar and Cambodia, among others, over the last decade.
• India realizes China is mainly trying to ensure protection of its sea lanes for critical energy needs, but it cannot allow the so-called Chinese string of pearls to choke it by strategic encirclement.
• China enjoys huge military superiority along the 4,057-km Line of Actual Control but India still has the upper hand with its blue-water Navy in the IOR.
• Indian Eastern Naval Command at Visakhapatnam is being strengthened with additional warships, aircraft and drones, the crucially-located Andaman and Nicobar Command also needs immediate attention.
• The PLA Navy's goal over the coming decades is to become a stronger regional force that is able to project power across the greater Asia-Pacific region for long-term, high-intensity operations.
• India has just one nuclear-powered submarine, leased from Russia without long-range missiles, and 13 ageing diesel-electric submarines. While, China, in turn, has five nuclear and 51 conventional submarines. It will induct up to five JIN-class SSBNs (nuclear-powered submarines armed with long-range nuclear missiles) with the new 7,400-km range JL-2 missiles before proceeding to its next-generation submarines over the next decade. This will give PLA Navy its first credible sea-based nuclear deterrent.
• China after inducting its first aircraft carrier Liaoning in September 2012, China is moving to build multiple carriers over the next decade. The PLA Navy has made long-distance deployments a routine part of its annual training cycle.