It seems France is set to join the ranks of India’s “anti-China front” in the Indian Ocean. Last week, Paris and New Delhi announced their decision to increase military cooperation in the Indo-Pacific region. The statement came during a two-day visit to the Asian country by French Defense Minister Florence Parly, and amid attempts by the Indian government to try to contain Beijing’s growing assertiveness from the Arabian Sea to the Bay of Bengal.
Parly and her Indian counterpart Nirmala Sitharaman said last Friday that the naval collaboration between their countries in the Indian Ocean was part of a broader plan to expand bilateral defense ties. In particular, France and India aim to improve military-to-military relations, counter-terror cooperation and their ability to develop arms systems jointly under the “Make in India” initiative.
The Indo-French military connection
While India considers China’s military presence in the Indian Ocean a strategic challenge to its regional role, it shares with France the goal of keeping international waters free and secure. Beijing’s militarization of the South China Sea, which is one of the world’s busiest shipping routes, is viewed both in Paris and Delhi as an attack on the rules-based world order.
As an Indo-Pacific actor, given its overseas dependencies in the Indian Ocean and the South Pacific, France has an interest in safeguarding regional stability. Paris is well aware that the global center of gravity is shifting to the Asia-Pacific region, notably in trade terms. French exports to South and East Asia were worth US$61.4 billion in 2016, or 12.5% of the European country’s total, according to the World Bank.
French warships routinely sail through the Indian and Pacific oceans to protect freedom of navigation. At the moment, as far as maritime collaboration in the area is concerned, Paris and New Delhi plan to expand their information-sharing deals and the scope of Varuna naval drills, slated for early 2018. The annual Varuna exercises were launched in 2001 with the purpose of improving the capacity to conduct joint operations by the navies of the France and India.
French President Emmanuel Macron’s trip to India in December will reveal more about the consistency of Paris’ military partnership with New Delhi. The question is whether France is sincere about its offer of cooperation or it is wooing India into acquiring more French-manufactured arms.
French aircraft manufacturer Dassault Aviation sold 36 Rafale fighters to India in September 2016 and is now competing to provide the Indian Air Force with another 36 multirole jets. As well, French state-owned shipbuilder Naval Group is contributing to the construction of six Scorpene-class submarines for the Indian Navy and is a contender for the realization – in collaboration with an Indian shipyard – of six advanced stealth submarines.
Multilateral counterbalance to China
France maintains it is an Indo-Pacific power, but it cannot conduct extended naval campaigns in the Indian Ocean or the South China Sea. If it wants to contribute to regional security in South Asia and the Pacific Rim, it must inevitably team up with India, the United States, Japan and Australia. This entails the improvement of interoperability and joint capabilities with the navies of these countries.
Steps have been taken by Washington, Tokyo and Canberra to extend naval assistance to New Delhi against China’s advancements in the Indian Ocean, where it has deployed warships, submarines and spy ships.
India is strengthening naval cooperation with Japan. On Tuesday, the Indian and Japanese navies wrapped up anti-submarine-warfare drills initiated two days earlier. The US has recently shown interest in boosting security collaboration with India. And Australia has an increased focus on the Indian Ocean and is keen to enhance security and defense ties with the Indian government.
France is deepening relations with all these Indo-Pacific powers. The path that Paris and New Delhi are treading is similar to that proposed by the US to ramp up its defense cooperation with India. In essence, Washington is ready to develop joint capabilities with the Indian armed forces, besides fostering defense trade and technology sharing.
Indian foreign policy remains “liquid.” On Sunday, for instance, India concluded military drills with Russia. Started on October 19, they were the most ambitious ever conducted by the two nations, according to the Russian side, and saw the simultaneous participation of their air, naval and ground forces for the first time.
But the level of India’s engagement with the US and its allies (including France) is acquiring a considerable dimension. As a result, it is plausible that New Delhi will manage to put up some sort of “multilateral” counterbalance to Beijing in the Indian Ocean.
France will say anything to get India to buy its arms.
Why do I keep reading about arms sales to India in all the articles on forming alliances against China? Does the writer understand that international relation in multifaceted, military power is just one aspect of it. You think China wants to dominate the Indian Ocean or the Pacific Ocean? China is interested in its own security. Aggressive intention on India? China has said it doesn’t have the luxury of picking a quarrel with India. Poor Indians. Taken for a ride by the western powers.
China Border Dispute Rules
If I like it, its mine.
If I’m holding it, its mine.
If I can take it from you, its mine.
If I had it little while ago, its mine.
If its mine, it must never appears to be yours anyway.
If it just looks like mine, its mine.
If you were patrolling with something and you left it sometime, it automatically becomes mine.
If its of no use to me, then also its mine until I say so!
Only problem is, it doesn’t work with India!
The Great China purged 40 million citizens as part of its cultural revolution, Purged another 10000+ as part of Tiananmen ma33acre, Purged another 50000+ as part of Melamine contamination impacting another 300000+. How do we call these mass purgers in a civilised terms?
China is intentionally creating trouble in South Asia/ India/ East Asia/ SCS as well as blackmailing the world by supporting 2 failed nuclear states Pakistan & North Korea. How long the international community going to mutely watch & tolerate such a hegemonic bully? Sooner we act against China better it’ll be for the world!
Yes Thiru Ravi India must act fast before the dragon flies into the sky away from the puddle where the dragon has been the sports of the shrimps for one century. India border dispute rule is :
1. I can build roads and bridges in disputed areas to defence my claim – South Tibet.
2. You mustn’t build anything on land under your effective control as that would change the status quo and threaten my neck – Donglang.
3. I must defend my neighbours whether they wanted or not, and guide them to obey me – Bhutan.
4. Whatever piece of land I want from my neighbor, I must be free to squat on it – Kalapani, Nepal
5. I will make sure my people vote in my neigbhors’ election to make sure my neighbors land belongs to me – Sikkim.
The Chinese purged so many citizens that the country now is quite empty, while India is slowly killing hundred of millions of her children through lack of food, hygiene and clean water. This is so inhumane and uncivilzed. India’s farmers are commiting suicide by the thousands every year so that India’s big business can prosper. This is termed progress. China support Pakistan from being bullied by India. China support North Korea to defend against the aggression of America
more like france is ready to sell more arms to India. French will sell their mothers if anyone willing to pay for them.
France better know what its doing and reign in its military. It wont be long before China will link trade and security. At this moment France, like Australia, is blissfully happy that they can trade freely with China and at the same time, threaten China whether directly or through alliances. There will come a time when China decides that is no longer acceptable and will use trade as a weapon like in Taiwan and South Korea. You can complain and whine about it but nothing you can do. Look at the shock when the soft cheese was banned from China. That was a shot across the bow. Next migh be wine.
Koh , is it true that the only thing or Chinese product that last long is great wall?
Bullshit! China does not threaten the world peace and security. MSM only wants us to believe that anti-Chinese crap.
"Beijing’s militarization of the South China Sea, which is one of the world’s busiest shipping routes,"
IDIOTS. That route is busy because of China. 80% of that traffic is from or to China. Think only that from the first 10 the busiest world ports 7 are in China.
It’s nice that they want to protect the Chinese traffic from that evil China
Whatever France purpose this will still send a good message to those smaller countries bullied,robbed and invaded by the trans-trnsgressor → China.
And by showing their interest with India concernning the disputed sea (SCS) ,it’s a clear justification that China is really violating the International Law of the Sea and stealing the Freedonm of Navigation Operation anf remain a big threat to "Peace,Freedom and Democracy".
Ahmed Alef Indian real complaint was that Chinese Choosed Pakistan for the sea route to the sea, not India. They want the "High interest rate" loans that Chinese offered to Pakistan, Sri Lanka. Remember 2014 when Xi was visiting India, the talks in Indian MSM was China going to give them 100 Billion. When it did not happen, they started act nasty, and bad mouth Chinese projects.
What! weapon of trade? It may work in small countries which China can threaten, but ifchina tries to other big countries like India or france , u can soon expect anti dumping tariffs of ur delicate Chinese products which does not last long..Also why China feels alarmed when India and France share security relationship Or when they buy fighter jets or co produce? It shows their inner intention when u feel u cannot contain them.
Koh Jek Siew both side got 11 likes each – its a draw !
I really don’t understand why westerners like to write bad of China u ppl are so jealous the rise of the dragon. 100 over years ago france germany british jpe occupy our motherland n slaughter so many of our ppl but nobody condemn them
And we should believe China…wow.
The only problem is, its really theirs because these disputed places are not occupied by any foreign people unlike the case with india’s northeastern states and sikkim where india invaded and annexed them
Kh Johnson problem is, they re reluctant to stop chinese imports into their country because they will run out of goods if they do that
Exactly there is a deep ties between India & Nepal . That’s why there was a six month blockade against Nepal by India. If it’s said "Kalapani Nepal, it’s not enough.
Well said..China is the leading LIAR nation on this planet.. Bullying small country..scumbag chinese CCP government.
Koh Jek Siew also let’s not forget Kashmir, where India ha been brutallizing the people who want freedom.
You should study more, China has spread its tentacles in the South China Sea illegally building man-made islands in International waters there. There has been the 2017 China India border standoff recently and lets not forget China invaded and still holds Tibet by the throat as well as not recognising Taiwan as an independant state. China would love nothing more than to change India’s borders.
Good move for France and India
Why do super powers don’t want to cooperate with each others and live Peacefully instead of
Super powers should show good example to small countries instead of showing up their strength to other nation
KS Chin do u think everybody cannot survive without your cheap, copy cat products of western or else where products.. ur Chinese products may be worth a while and as I say again it will not last long except great wall! What about service sector, other than manufacturing sector. A country is defined as developed when its GDP is moving from agrarian to manufacturing and then to service sector.. China is still in manufacturing stage. So still far from calling developed country.. I hope I am more in 1900’s than ur 1800’s
Kh Johnson Whenever someone runs out of arguments, the insults and stereotypes starts. What makes you think I am from China? Have you not read Atimes articles at all? China is now transitioning from manufacturing into a service and consumerism economy. Its Africa and South East Asia who will move into manufacturing as wages are too high now in China. Yes indeed it is still developing, there are still millions in poverty. Xi has set a target of zero poverty by 2020. I doubt he can reach it but even close to it would be incredible, Then you look at HK and the coffin cubicles where the poor stay in. You are still living in the 70s. You go to Bunnings in Australia and all the super brands you love like Stanley, Bosch, Black and Decker. Guess where they are made? You get what you pay for.
Siddharth Dev Haobijam hahaha that a good point!. so… enough talking! start the fight! nuke each other…. let see how has the big mouth!
France to join ? It is funny as France needs so much from China. You got to be more realistic !
As US embraces China, all the followers will do the same thing , because they used to be brainless , not knowing what is right & what is wrong.
Albert Chiu Chinese people often mistake/misunderstand the sentiments of non-Chinese. Most people are not anti China as such, but rather anti CCP. There is a big difference – China is not the CCP and the CCP is certainly not China, despite the best efforts of the Party to convince its citizens and the world. Many people support the rise of China and its citizens and wish the country well; however, the CCP is (if one has done ANY research) a brutal and harsh regime that tortures its citizens, harvests organs from political prisoners and has no rule of law, freedom of press/association or any political freedoms. In some areas it has been very efficient and overseen great prosperity for 10-20% of the population, though at a massive environmental cost. The endless CCP narrative about the ‘100 years of humiliation’ is true and was a shameful way to treat another country, though maybe time to move on and stop using it to justify everything the CCP wants to do. What about Tibet and Xinjiang? Do they like being brutalised by the CCP? Hypocritical maybe? Chinese claims in the SCS are delusional and absurd at best – it has militarised the area, which is against international law and not only China’s goods pass through there – also Japan’s, S.Korea, Taiwan, Philippines etc. so they have no right to continue their imperialist territorial claims. The CCP is giving China a bad name and undermining the Chinese people’s right to be proud citizens of the world – instead they are associated with a regime that is nasty, brutish and short on any international friends. If China under the CCP is such a wonderful system, then why does it have very little soft power? (the ability to naturally attract and influence through a state’s natural appeal…) Until the CCP radically reforms its policies (being a nasty international bully) and political model (doesn’t have to copy the West – just not brutalise its own people), it is disgracing the legacy of ancient China.
What about China dredging parts in the seas building islands which are armed to the teeth! Mr. Peter Soo!?