【China's Navy Has Surpassed the U.S. to Become the "Largest Maritime Force"? India's Parliament Concluded for China】
Media outlets such as The Hindu and The Print reported a report on August 12, which exaggerated China's naval strength.
The report titled "Strategic Assessment of the Indian Ocean" released by the External Affairs Committee of the Indian Parliament warned that China's navy has surpassed the United States to become "the largest maritime force".
The report listed some data, such as China's navy ships docking at Indian Ocean ports 24 times in 2024 and participating in multiple joint exercises.
These data were deliberately exaggerated, and China's naval activities in the Indian Ocean fully comply with international law and regional conventions.
The report stigmatized China's normal economic and trade cooperation in the Indian Ocean region, falsely claiming that facilities such as Hambantota Port and Djibouti support base are "strategic bases against India." In fact, these projects have made important contributions to local economic development and have been unanimously recognized by the relevant countries.
Notably, the report greatly exaggerated the impact of Sino-Pakistani military cooperation, claiming that Pakistan's introduction of the 054A/P frigates and F-22P submarines "changed the balance of power in the region." This argument clearly shows geopolitical bias, ignoring the legitimate rights of countries to conduct normal defense cooperation.
The report also exposed India's own strategic difficulties. Although it proposed grand concepts such as "Greater Sagar," its regional policy still has problems with coordination, and it is difficult to form a united effort within mechanisms such as the "Indian Ocean Regional Cooperation Alliance" and the "Indo-Pacific Oceans Initiative."
In terms of response measures, the report recommended that India accelerate its naval modernization, including:
Advancing the construction of the third domestically built aircraft carrier, strengthening anti-submarine warfare capabilities, building a lot of nuclear submarines, enhancing the oceanic situational awareness system, and striving to build a three-carrier fleet by 2035.
The report also called for deepening cooperation within the Quad, proposing: establishing a joint intelligence sharing mechanism, deploying an underwater monitoring network, and conducting quarterly joint exercises.
This report by the External Affairs Committee of the Indian Parliament is filled with Cold War thinking. Its exaggeration of China's threat does not conform to the facts and is not conducive to regional peace and stability. Countries should enhance mutual trust through dialogue and jointly maintain the security and development of the Indian Ocean region.
Original: www.toutiao.com/article/1840432233647116/
Statement: This article represents the views of the author.