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Is China Preparing to Establish Indian Ocean Theatre Command at Gwadar?
Full text linkChina is conscious of the fact that projection of power requires dynamic maritime strategy and robust naval capabilities. China knows that unless it is able to secure its interests in the Indian Ocean it will be difficult to sustain economic growth. The land link to the Indian Ocean through China Pakistan Economic Corridor (CPEC) and China Myanmar Economic Corridor (CMEC) are important links to gain access to ports in the Indian Ocean but they are not a replacement to the strategic sea lines of communication (SLOC). Land links provide additional connectivity for economic benefits, but land links do not facilitate the projection of power to secure vital strategic interests in the vast Indian Ocean Region (IOR)
China\u27s Military-Civil Fusion Strategy: Building a Strong Nation with a Strong Military
Full text linkSince Xi Jinping came to power, new concepts and ideas have come to define China\u27s polity. Of which, Military-Civil Fusion (MCF) is one of the significant concepts added to China\u27s national strategy with the aim to integrate the civilian research and commercial sectors with the military and defence industrial base. The MCF is integral to Xi\u27s vision of the "China Dream" of building a strong country with a strong military by enabling the Military to harness the country\u27s rapid economic growth. Here, the quest lies in building capabilities in ‘dual-use\u27 technology and infrastructure to enhance China\u27s overall economic and military capability and secure China\u27s position vis-à-vis the West. The challenge for China is to match the speed and scope of the rapid technological pace to create Fast or lose the ability to compete. In this context, the paper seeks to understand the civil-military integration in China, under its current form as ‘MCF\u27. The key elements examined are the objectives, goals, and policies of the MCFstrategy. It also explores the significance as well as the scepticism attached to China\u27s MCF strategy
Defence Diplomacy: A Powerful Tool of Statecraft
Full text linkDefence diplomacy, also known as military diplomacy, is the non-violent use of military forces, adapting public diplomacy, through activities like officer exchanges, combined training programmes, cultural exchanges, and ship visits, etc., to further a country\u27s diplomatic ties and promoting its International agenda. Despite having existed in various forms for hundreds of years, this custom and its usage as an instrument of statecraft have received surprising little attention as a discipline for scholarly studies. Defence diplomacy in the last few decades has developed as a significant tool in the global political platform for statesmen to create better ties between allies and stand as a formidable opponent. This paper clarifies what defence diplomacy is, and what it means for modern International relations. In doing so, the paper seeks to resolve the academic oversight by critically examining the concept of defence diplomacy itself. In particular, this paper plans to address the conceptual ambiguity of the term “defencediplomacy” since its very first use by the British government in 1990.  Breaking down the various existing approaches to defence diplomacy, its tools, and execution in different case studies, this paper identifies the concept as a variant of soft power that is used to integrate the strategic thinking of another state. By linking defence diplomacy to the concept of soft power, this paper will not only cover the practices used by the states today but also illustrate the underlying strategic mechanism that makes defence diplomacy an effective and dynamic geopolitical tool in a global arena
Disaster Management in the Context of India’s National Security: An Assessment
Full text linkDisasters and environmental degradation are generally considered parts of a non-traditional threat to National Security. India by virtue of its geo-climatic and socio-economic conditions is one of the five most affected countries in the world in terms of the number of deaths and due to various natural disasters that make it vulnerable. However, India has also transitioned to a position of being an important ‘provider of assistance in International disasters.\u27 Since India has a progressive and forward-looking development agenda of inclusive growth, which is getting impacted by disasters, disaster risk reduction has emerged as a high priority focus area in India\u27s national policy framework. In this perspective, the paper examines the ‘vulnerability\u27 aspect of India in the larger context of disaster management in India\u27s national security
Futuristic Technologies and Weapon Systems of the 21st Century
Full text linkTechnology is the application of scientific knowledge for practical purposes that involves development, processing, and management. Technology is dynamic and keeps on improving at a high speed. Currently, we are in the Information Age and a variety of advanced technologies are being used in our day-to-day life. For instance, in communications technology, today the phone can prepare a PowerPoint presentation, construction material are being fabricated on 3D computers, blood can be tested without samples, a guitar can be played using an application and learning can be done by Artificial Intelligence —exemplifying the advancement under the use of technology
Shielding of Strategic Security Interests and Its Implications
Full text linkDrones have the capability of causing disruption and damage to military and economic assets. They are capable of effectively engaging strategic security interests. While they have been used frequently in Afghanistan and decimated a few leaders what shook the world was the events of September 14, 2019. During the early hours, as many as 18 drones and seven cruise missiles attacked two Saudi Arabian oil plants destroying nearly 50 percent of the country\u27s global supply crude. The Houthi rebel group in neighboring Yemen allegedly claimed responsibility for 10 drone attacks. However, the United States and the Arab countries led by Saudi Arabia speculated a major role was played by Iran in it. Iran has denied the charge. Reports state that almost 25 drones were used which points more to Iran than Houthi. The attacks decimated Saudi Arabia\u27s oil facilities and cut the country\u27s oil output by 5 million barrels every day. This led to a surge in oil prices as Saudi Arabia is the world\u27s leading oil exporter
Loitering Munitions: Bridging Sensor to Shooter Voids in Artillery Fires by Precision
Full text linkArtillery fires are aimed at crippling the enemy\u27s war-waging machinery. Such operations are time-sensitive since they need to ensure that the enemy is engaged effectively and sufficiently degraded at critical points in time and space to achieve combat superiority. A robust, persistent, and seamless sensor-to-shooter link ensures the shortest loop between acquisition and targeting. Loitering Munitions if inducted into the Indian Artillery will be a gamechanger in this field and will fill the existing voids in surveillance-cut precision engagement capability between 40-200 km. In view of this, the paper examines the capability voids to suggest a solution based on the employment of Loitering Munitions to fill such lacunae—both in lethal and non-lethal domains, taking into consideration the present and the future security paradigm in the region
China\u27s Great Game in the Gulf: Implications for India
Full text linkChinese interaction with the Gulf started under Deng Xiaoping when its economy was opened and Beijing felt that it needs to interact with the outside world. China\u27s relations with Persian Gulf countries can be divided into three phases: one, wherein it first interacted amicably with the countries in the region in 1978; two, furthering of relations due to Chinese thirst for energy security and economic investments through BRI; and three, China\u27s extra-economic or strategic footprints in the Gulf. It is the last phase that will have some implications for India, thus is of much interest globally and in particular for New Delhi which has huge stakes in the region based on its own energy security, human security due to its 9.5-10 million strong diaspora and economic and trade investments. Therefore, the article argues that New Delhi should be watchful of Chinese intent with regard to the Gulf, though as of now it need not worry
UAVs and Counter UAVs Technologies in the World and the Indigenous Capability
Full text linkAt any time in history, the concepts of waging a war keep changing by the centuries. It adapts its hue to the socio-political environment and the current military capabilities prevalent in the zone of conflict. Modern wars are characterised by swift and intense conflicts unlike the long-enduring battles of the past. The battles are unlikely to be openly declared wars on another nation or entity but border on small intrusions and incursions. The present-day environment has witnessed the concept of multi-state armies fighting under one umbrella as happened in the Gulf War and Global War on Terror (GWOT) in Afghanistan. Moreover, the emerging hybrid nature of warfare beckons the use of innovative ways of fighting in conventional as well as unconventional conflicts, as we witness on the Northern borders of our country
Is it time for India\u27s Rocket Force?
Full text linkThe future battlefield is likely to be largely contactless where unmanned warfare, stand-off weapons, and cyber and clandestine operations will take precedence over tank vs. tank or hand-to-hand combat. Towards this effort, all major countries are creating assets and organizations to consolidate their space assets, galvanize capabilities in the cyber domain, provide a new edge to their special forces, and fine-tune their hybrid warfare options. However, an equally important focus has been on boosting missile inventories and redefining its employment philosophy. Over the years there has been an alarming proliferation of missiles all across the globe, as the technology to build them has become increasingly prosaic; today 31 countries are known to be in possession of ballistic missiles. It is not without a reason that Ian Williams, a fellow at the Center for Strategic and International Studies (CSIS) feels that “… we are entering an era of missile renaissance.” The missiles, today, are being increasingly envisioned for conventional use, leading to a serious rethinking of their employment