New Delhi: With India facing a fast-evolving security and geopolitical situation due to the rise of a belligerent China, there is a rush between the two Asian giants to build and consolidate influence among the many countries of the South Asian region.
From giving submarines to military equipment to assistance in combating COVID 19, the two countries are leaving no stone unturned in making their presence felt.
Perhaps keeping the China factor in mind, India had decided to give more presence in the prestigious National Defence College (NDC) to countries like Nepal, Myanmar, Bangladesh and Maldives where Chinese influence is also considerable.
On Wednesday, India’s defence secretary Ajay Kumar made the announcement. “We will be able to offer more seats to friendly foreign countries from where demand is huge. Necessary infrastructure in this regard is being created. We are going to give additional seats to Nepal, Myanmar, Bangladesh, apart from new seats to Uzbekistan, Tajikistan, Philippines, Indonesia and Maldives.”
“We will increase the number of seats for foreign countries from the current 25 by an additional 10 new seats in 2021 and then by another 10 in 2022,” the defence secretary said.
There has been interaction with Sri Lanka too as the island nation wants to begin its own programme similar to the one offered by NDC.
A top military official said on condition of anonymity: “We are actively helping Sri Lanka in structuring the course and content.”
Not surprisingly, there has not been much of a Pakistani or Chinese presence at the NDC over the years.
Said a top-ranking military official: “Only once has there been a Pakistani officer at the NDC that too about ten years ago, while Chinese officials have not been invited because there are no corresponding programmes on offer in China. Most Chinese programmes are very structured which are not much preferred by professional soldiers, diplomats and others.”
A concept note prepared for the NDC Diamond Jubilee event where a two-day webinar will be held on Thursday and Friday, says: “A major impact of the Chinese influence is being felt in the Asian region with China using its military and economic heft to consolidate its hegemony at the expense of regional powers such as India.”
Since April-May, the Indian and Chinese militaries have been engaged in a faceoff in eastern Ladakh which has led to unprecedented militarization and mobilization of soldiers and military assets across the Line of Actual Control (LAC). More than 1,00,000 soldiers stand deployed in the area currently even as they dig in to face the brunt of a very severe winter that has begun to set in.
Known for churning out security, military, diplomacy and strategic thinkers, India’s prestigious NDC is one of a kind. Ever since it offered its first course in 1960, it counts among its alumni two former heads of state (Bangladesh and Ghana), one king (Bhutan), 74 chiefs of staff of foreign militaries besides a host of other influential individuals.
Within the country, the NDC programme has among its alumni the serving CDS, two Governors, present NSA, two Election Commissioners, 30 service chiefs, 74 Foreign Service officers, over 20 ambassadors, four defence secretaries, and five foreign secretaries, just to name a few.
Read: 'Within India, we can make any type of missile that Armed forces want'
