With Chinese troops continuing to be in standoff with Indian forces along the Line of Actual Control (LAC) in eastern Ladakh, New Delhi is fully cautious about Beijing’s possible aggressive behaviour on other fronts as well. Andaman and Nicobar Islands in the eastern Indian Ocean are very crucial strategic oceanic regions where Chinese ships have been trying to foment trouble for India. Indian security establishment is fully cautious about the fact that Beijing might increase its activities in Indian waters by engaging it on the LAC from where the PLA is refusing to budge. Indian Navy and Indian Air Force are on high alert keeping the larger conspiracy of China in mind.
There have been many instances of China showing its misadventure in the region not much far away from Andaman and Nicobar Islands. Indian naval ships have pushed back Chinese ships from the Indian waters several times in the recent past. Chinese ships have been involved in spying in the region. There were also threats of presence of deepwater Chinese submarines in the Andaman sea.
The Chinese Navy has been trying to flex muscles in the Indian Ocean region by sending its submarines often through Indian water covertly (en-route Karachi). But the alert Indian Navy has foiled the bid of Chinese forces in the ocean. Indian Air Force is also fully alert keeping in view this kind of misadventure of China.
According to sources, India has deployed Jaguar fighters in the Andaman and Nicobar Islands. Sources also indicate that a squadron of Jaguar fighters has been placed in the forward operational bases under the Tri Services Command. Recently upgraded Jaguar-IM has been added with Active ElectronicallyScanned Array (AESA) radar. This multirole aircraft, apart from the attacking role, is helping both the Navy and Indian Air Force in picking up reconnaissance in the Indian Ocean and Indo Pacific region.
Sources say that Andaman and Nicobar Islands, which are under Tri Services Command, are steadily galvanising the air power as well. Logistical supports have been reaching the strategic points for several months now.
Hambantota in Sri Lanka also serves as another landing ground for the PLA Navy. However, three countries (US, Japan and Australia) have already joined hands with India for ‘Quad Alliance’, and Andaman is set to play a massive role in the operational aspect of this alliance.
With a strategic upper hand, India is countering the Dragon even in waters alongside icy heights of Ladakh. India and Australia are dominating the Indian Ocean region. The US with its aircraft carrier fleet in the Indo-Pacific region and Japan in South China Sea have made China rethink its war strategy.