Beijing: As India gears up to test its 5000
km range Agni-V missile in February next year, Chinese
official media here said that the "killer" missile with
potential to reach several cities in China showed New Delhi's
intention to become major power in the region.
"Indian officials and scientists claimed that their Agni-V
missile is the 'killer' for a certain country, which obviously
shows the intention of seeking regional balance of power," an
article in the state-run People Daily titled 'Risks behind
India's military build up' said on Sunday.
It added that India has strategic ambitions and hopes to
play an important role in world affairs, "so it cannot
tolerate these internal and external security environment
constraints".
"It is the Indian goal to continue to strengthen the
military and possess a military clout that matches its status
as a major power," the write-up in the daily, which is the
official organ of the ruling Communist Party of China (CPC),
said.
"However, how many missiles is enough is a question for
all governments in the missile era," it said.
Chinese media reported the last month's successful test
flight of the 3000 km range Agni-IV missile.
DRDO Director-General V K Saraswat had announced that Agni-V will be test fired in February.
Defence analysts say that the two together has the
potential to reach several top Chinese cities, though far off
regions could still be out of range for Indian missiles.
Analysts say that while short range missile Agni-I and II
are regarded as Pakistan-specific, Agni-III, IV and V are
perceived to be China-specific.
For its part China already has a variety of long and
medium range missiles which according to US media reports were
deployed in Tibet and Xinjiang provinces.
US Department of Defence Report on Chinese military said
last year that China has now replaced older liquid-fuelled,
nuclear capable CSS-3 IRBMs with more advanced and survivable
solid-fuelled CSS-5 MRBMs.
The People's Daily also carried a similar write up last
month terming India's decision to beef-up defence preparedness
at borders with China with one lakh troops as a "sensitive
move".
"It will result in a tense situation in the region and
harm India's own interests. Increasing troops on the border
area is always a sensitive move and it is especially sensitive
to increase troops on a disputed border area," it said.
"In an era when precision-guided weapons are developing
rapidly, everyone with common sense knows that concentrated
troops could be eliminated easily," it said.
Today's write up referred to India's plan to spend USD 8.2 billion equipment from foreign countries to improve its
defence capabilities in the 11th plan.
"The Sweden Stockholm International Peace Research
Institute said in a recent report that India has become the
world's largest arms importer, a veritable arsenal made up of
imports from many different countries," it said.
PTI
First Published: Sunday, December 18, 2011, 15:12