Stressing that the government was watching the developments in all the neighbouring countries with caution, Air Chief Marshal P.V. Naik on Monday said that consequently, it was also looking into developments in China.
“Anything that upsets the growth of our nation is a matter of concern. It is viewed as such and planned for,” he said, at his annual press conference here.
“All neighbours — borrowing Chanakya's quotes — have to be watched with caution for their impact on the growth of our nation. So, we watch all neighbours, be it the smallest or the largest, with caution,” he added.
He was replying to a query on his views on reports regarding development of military infrastructure by China, including in Tibet.
At the same time, he pointed out that India firmly believed in the sovereignty of every neighbour and their right to do what they wanted within their boundaries. “We are neighbours and we must respect the sovereignty of each country.” The IAF, he said, believed in the concept of being more capability-based, rather than adversary-specific and its modernisation plans were dictated by this concept and the national aspirations.
“Even Prime Minister Manmohan Singh has said that India's area of responsibility extends from Hormus Straits to the Malacca Straits and beyond. It will happen in the future. We see what capacity is required to meet this aspiration and accordingly modernisation and procurement are planned,” he said.
Asked if the IAF was tuning its doctrine to match the Army's new doctrine of preparing for a two-front simultaneous war with Pakistan and China, the Air Chief Marshal said the Air Force was prepared for a multi-front war.
“It is in terms of allocation of forces that you distinguish. Otherwise, we are preparing for a multi-dimensional, multi-faceted, multi-front war.”
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