NEW DELHI: China has more worrying news for us. Latest
satellite pictures have identified a large area in central China with 58 launch
pads for nuclear-capable ballistic missiles which apparently target north India
and south Russia.
(Watch)
Coming soon after the discovery of the
sheer extent of China's underground nuclear submarine base at Hainan Island in
South China Sea, it's yet another reality check for the Indian defence
establishment.
TOI
had
highlighted earlier this month how Hainan had jolted the Indian establishment,
with navy chief Admiral Sureesh Mehta expressing concern about the number of
nuclear submarines and long-range missiles "in our
neighbourhood".
The new satellite pictures show 58 launch pads and
command and control facilities spread over a 2,000 sq km deployment area near
Delingha and Da Qaidam in the northern parts of Qinghai province.
An
analysis of the photos by the Federation of American Scientists, a reputed US
non-governmental organization which works on nuclear and arms control issues,
holds "the sites are for targeting Russia and India".
But while
China has been swift to resolve disputes with Russia, even importing weapon
systems worth an estimated $13 billion from Moscow in the last seven-eight
years, it continues to adopt an aggressive border posture as far as India is
concerned.
Moreover, Russian missiles and counter-missile measures
are more than a match for the Chinese ones. In sharp contrast, India has stark
asymmetry vis-a-vis China in terms of strategic and military
capabilities.
"It's foolhardy for India's political leadership to
assume all is hunky-dory with China by citing the $40 billion bilateral trade
figure. With the boundary dispute showing no signs of being resolved amid tussle
for energy resources, China clearly remains India's long-term threat," said an
official.
Though India has steadily improved its relationship with
China, with several military CBMs being implemented along the 4,057-km Line of
Actual Control, the armed forces remain concerned about Beijing's "continuing
deep linkages" with Islamabad in the nuclear and missile arenas.