Beijing is closely watching India’s testing of an intercontinental ballistic missile (ICBM), allegedly nuclear capable, amid concern it may pose a threat to the region as well as global nuclear-nonproliferation.
Indian Defence Minister Nirmala Sitharaman proclaimed last week that the Indian Army had launched a nuclear-capable ballistic missile, Agni-V, and the Times of India revealed that the nation’s first ICBM could reach the northernmost parts of China with a strike range of over 5,000 kilometers. That puts Beijing, Shanghai and Guangzhou well within range.
But Chinese military observer Song Zongping noted in the nationalist tabloid the Global Times that there was no further proof that the missile had met all parameters for the test.
Hu Zhiyong, a research fellow at the Institute of International Relations at the Shanghai Academy of Social Sciences, also expressed skepticism in the same paper, claiming “though the missile could theoretically hit Beijing, India’s missile technology is far below the standard.”
The ace among China’s long-distance missiles is the DF-41, which runs on solid fuel and is road-mobile. With a range of between 12,000 to 15,000 km and a top cruising speed of Mach 25 (30,870 kph), it can carry several thermonuclear warheads – each capable of being aimed to hit a different target.
India has a smaller economy and less money in government coffers but has shown Beijing it has a growing nuclear arsenal under the nation’s Strategic Forces Command.
Xinhua also reported that India’s 50-ton ICBM was just a few tests away from mass production and deployment.
Aside from the shorter-range Prithvi and Dhanush missiles, India’s Strategic Forces Command already has earlier Agni missiles – versions I, II and III – in its arsenal.
Bruce W. MacDonald, a top US missile defense expert, told Asia Times that “China is worried about North Korea but it is not worried about being attacked by them,” but Indian nukes were another matter.
The test came a day after India staged joint sea drills with Japan’s Self Defence Force in the Indian Ocean. Beijing’s military build-up and posturing over recent years has fueled a common antagonism that has drawn New Delhi and Tokyo closer.
India is also seeking to boost military cooperation with ASEAN nations in a bid to contain China in the Indian Ocean, as well as the South China Sea.
Papers in China are now urging the People’s Liberation Army to expand into South Asia and the Indian Ocean with drills and “freedom-of-navigation” flyovers, and to prop up Pakistan’s defense capabilities as an outpost and buffer. Some have gone so far as to suggest that medium-range DF missiles be deployed in eastern Pakistan to counter any threat from India.
The PLA now reportedly operates a base at Gwadar port in Pakistan, although its location suggests the base is meant to protect Chinese ships passing through the Arabian Sea and be a point of replenishment for its warships.
But it seems unlikely another base could be set up on the subcontinent, given it would inflame tensions between Islamabad and New Delhi.
Read more:
China wary of India’s strategic potential
‘China pursuing missile defenses; Indian nukes are main worry
The article is pack with speculations and wild immagination. India has the bomb. Can it use it? US has the bomb. Can it use it? That would be MAD (mutual assured destruction). Is China interested to conquor India? India is not in the Chinese radar. Why is India so worried? Maybe they are buying the stories written by the whites, apping the whites. Who is provoking who? Who provoked the 1962 border war? Why is India poking it noses here and there where it has no business in? Maybe they can’t accept that they have a long way to go to match the Chinese.
Last time I looked, the Indians have much smaller dick than the Chinese of 4.30 inches…
4India
The country who proudly shared its Yoga spirituality shit to the world, never shared the fact that Indian Men have a teensy weensy dickie, with an average size of 4.03 inches. Well we, now know the truth. Namaste!
Simon Dan oh wait I have a 6 inch dick wanna see it….And btw only chinese smalls can believe on those stupid surveys
A debate turning to using slang language gives us proof how vulnerable we are. I think, a fair commentary should have been turned into a solid humanistic sober discussion from where we could find a message: that proliferation of arms will end us.
The real story is the Agni-VI, still in development and a range of 12,000 kliks, that would put New York in range?
China should induct Sri Lanka into a missile system. Sri Lanka has many positive issues, one of the main ones being strategically located and at the southern tip of India.
India is more than aware of this.Had the Indian bid to form Elam through the use of the Tamil Tigers come true the new nation of "Elam" would have immediately fallen under India’s sway and divided what remains of Sri Lanka’s soverignity. It failed but exposed New Delhi’s fears.
Those fears are realized whenever China and Sri Lanka engage. The leasing of the Hambantota port to China is a greater geopoliical issue than India’s or America’s media claims it to be.
Sri Lanka’s strategic location is rather unique in the world. Going back to Ptolemy’s maps Sri Lanka is deliberately shown larger than India due to its importance as a navigation point in the ancient world.
The British built South Asia’s largest oil farm in the harbor of Trincomalee
The natural harbor of Trincomalee is so large it could contain the entire British fleet during world war 2 and still have room to spare.
Due to its location Sri Lanka sits at midpoint between East Asia and West Asia and along the busiest sea routes in the world
Radio Ceylon which is the oldest radio system in Asia was able to reach a vast region due to its location.
useless ,brain less fellow. india is culturally&intelectually, far superior,at least since more than 2500 yrs. u fellows learned BUDDISM &YOGA& KUNGFU,(frm kerala state) FROM INDIA. u were vagabonds,when we were higher level of ayurveda medicine. thousands of yrs bk india gifted game of CHESS to the world . above all r very famous &practied by many many countries to day.since only 30-40 yrs, u begged ,n stole technology frm western countries&japan,(agnst soviet union) n still struggling to master it. u dog &snake eating jungle roming fellows,chinees. we indians r far far superior rece than u , chinees.
useless ,brain less fellow. india is culturally&intelectually, far superior,at least since more than 2500 yrs. u fellows learned BUDDISM &YOGA& KUNGFU,(frm kerala state) FROM INDIA. u were vagabonds,when we were higher level of ayurveda medicine. thousands of yrs bk india gifted game of CHESS to the world . above all r very famous &practied by many many countries to day.since only 30-40 yrs, u begged ,n stole technology frm western countries&japan,(agnst soviet union) n still struggling to master it. u dog &snake eating jungle roming fellows,chinees. we indians r far far superior rece than u , chinees.