ARIPPLE IN THE WATER

A classified intelligence report says China’s deployment of its submarine “aggravates India’s security concerns”. Extracts: The deployment was meant to project China’s power and demonstrate that it can protect its interests in West Asia and Africa as well as the international sea lanes. The deployment was part of a strategy, propounded by Admiral Liu Huaqing in the late 1980s, to build platforms capable of blue water operations; operate in the Indian Ocean; and engage in global operations. The move was a message of persuasion to other Indian Ocean Rim States. Five nations were informed of the deployment, possibly to prevent hostile reactions in case the submarine encountered technical problems.