<p>“Such a protocol is under the examination of government,” Navy Chief Admiral Nirmal Verma said, adding that the idea was being debated within the establishment following the success of Indo-Pakistan hotlines between the two countries’ director generals of military operations.<br /><br />While New Delhi has a structured mechanism with Pakistan to deal with border issues and another border dispute redressal mechanism with China is on the cards, no such structures is in place between the two navies, both of which are expanding their footprint in the Indian Ocean through which bulk of the world’s oil and cargo moves.<br /><br />Even though Beijing’s recent sovereignty claims on the South China sea has ruffled many feathers in the Asia-Pacific, Indian Ocean region could very well turn out to be a flashpoint zone between the two neighbours. <br /><br />“A protocol (to avoid confrontation) is being looked at by the government,” Verma said, adding that such a protocol existed between USA and USSR at the height of the cold war. Earlier this year, INS Airavat sailing at South China Sea was threatened over the radio by a person identifying the area as Chinese territory and asking the Indian warship to back off. <br /><br />In 2009, China claimed that its warships had forced an Indian submarine to surface after it was allegedly found tracking the movement of the Chinese ships in the Indian Ocean when these were on their way to join the anti-piracy operation in the Gulf of Aden.<br />While the first Chinese aircraft carrier has begun its sea trial a few months ago, more carriers are believed to be under construction.<br /><br /> China has invested heavily in the submarines and its game-changer, an anti-ship ballistic missile that can destroy an aircraft carrier from more than 1000 km away is “close to operationalisation” keeping the Indian Navy as well as US Pacific Command on the tenterhooks. “The anti-ship missile will generate a different category of weapon,” admitted Verma.<br /><br />To position itself in an authoritative position vis-a-vis China, Indian Navy is not only increasing its assets and manpower but also extending support from other littoral states who may offer their crucial help when the need comes.<br /><br />The first Indian nuclear submarine INS Arihant and new carrier INS Vikramaditya will be on the patrol before the end of 2012. The Navy is also going to add more destroyers, frigates, submarines and aircraft in its inventory within the next five years and there is no dearth of funding to strain the ongoing programmes in the next five years. By 2027, Navy was looking at a fleet strength of more than 150 ships and close to 500 aircraft, including fighters, choppers and surveillance platform, he said.<br /></p>
<p>“Such a protocol is under the examination of government,” Navy Chief Admiral Nirmal Verma said, adding that the idea was being debated within the establishment following the success of Indo-Pakistan hotlines between the two countries’ director generals of military operations.<br /><br />While New Delhi has a structured mechanism with Pakistan to deal with border issues and another border dispute redressal mechanism with China is on the cards, no such structures is in place between the two navies, both of which are expanding their footprint in the Indian Ocean through which bulk of the world’s oil and cargo moves.<br /><br />Even though Beijing’s recent sovereignty claims on the South China sea has ruffled many feathers in the Asia-Pacific, Indian Ocean region could very well turn out to be a flashpoint zone between the two neighbours. <br /><br />“A protocol (to avoid confrontation) is being looked at by the government,” Verma said, adding that such a protocol existed between USA and USSR at the height of the cold war. Earlier this year, INS Airavat sailing at South China Sea was threatened over the radio by a person identifying the area as Chinese territory and asking the Indian warship to back off. <br /><br />In 2009, China claimed that its warships had forced an Indian submarine to surface after it was allegedly found tracking the movement of the Chinese ships in the Indian Ocean when these were on their way to join the anti-piracy operation in the Gulf of Aden.<br />While the first Chinese aircraft carrier has begun its sea trial a few months ago, more carriers are believed to be under construction.<br /><br /> China has invested heavily in the submarines and its game-changer, an anti-ship ballistic missile that can destroy an aircraft carrier from more than 1000 km away is “close to operationalisation” keeping the Indian Navy as well as US Pacific Command on the tenterhooks. “The anti-ship missile will generate a different category of weapon,” admitted Verma.<br /><br />To position itself in an authoritative position vis-a-vis China, Indian Navy is not only increasing its assets and manpower but also extending support from other littoral states who may offer their crucial help when the need comes.<br /><br />The first Indian nuclear submarine INS Arihant and new carrier INS Vikramaditya will be on the patrol before the end of 2012. The Navy is also going to add more destroyers, frigates, submarines and aircraft in its inventory within the next five years and there is no dearth of funding to strain the ongoing programmes in the next five years. By 2027, Navy was looking at a fleet strength of more than 150 ships and close to 500 aircraft, including fighters, choppers and surveillance platform, he said.<br /></p>
