World | India
Naval chief says new submarine base of China not 'major concern'
Interacting with the media after a naval commanders conference at the Western Naval Command here, the admiral said 34 ships were under various stages of construction for the navy in different shipyards.
- By Pamela Raghunath, Correspondent
- Published: 23:56 May 9, 2008
Mumbai: India's naval chief says a new Chinese submarine base is "not a major concern" for India.
Admiral Sureesh Mehta told reporters on Friday that for his force "at this point of time the Chinese Navy is not in the Indian Ocean".
Asked about reports on the base coming up in Sanya in Hainan island off the South China coast, he said the two countries "must evolve common schemes for co-operative engagement to know what the other is doing".
He also added that his force's doctrine was India-centric. Moreover, he pointed out, China was India's largest trading partner.
Admiral Mehta said the Indian Navy needs nuclear-powered submarines carrying conventional warheads and three aircraft carriers to achieve the status of a blue water navy.
Interacting with the media after a naval commanders conference at the Western Naval Command here, the admiral said 34 ships were under various stages of construction for the navy in different shipyards.
The navy has a fleet strength of 160 vessels.
He said six more submarines will be inducted into the navy soon.
The Defence Research Development Organisation is developing a nuclear-powered submarine, named Advance Technology Vessel, which could either be equipped with conventional or nuclear weapons, he said.
In spite of the growth path of the navy being strong, he admitted the "capability and capacity of the navy was limited".
He pointed out that though the Indian Navy had a requirement of three aircraft carriers, it currently had only one, INS Viraat, which was non-operational as it was under refit. This would at best be a stop-gap carrier till INS Vikramaditya, being acquired from Russia, arrived.
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