•This refers to the editorial Friends like these . The NAM countries and Iran are jealous of India’s prospective special nuclear status because, unlike India, they are signatories to the NPT and thus covered by its stringent provisions. Given the fact that India could never get NAM’s political support in its wars with Pakistan and China, it need not worry about the NAM’s position on the nuclear deal. Instead, what the UPA government should be careful about is the danger of succumbing to the Left’s pressure which is being exerted at the behest of China. It is time to seal the deal.

— S.K. Gupta

Delhi

A submarine force

•The build-up of China’s submarine fleet and the revelations of fortified facilities on the island of Hainan should not come as a surprise ‘China to India, an unpleasant surprise’. Deng Ziaoping scripted China’s naval strategy and directed its navy to build up a large nuclear and conventional submarine fleet that could be deployed off Taiwan, and used to ward off US aircraft-carrier task forces or sink them before they came to Taiwan’s aid.

The aviation-centric Indian navy should now revisit the carrier vs submarine debate. In the 21st century, the carrier will be a difficult target to defend against submarines and precision-guided missiles. India has the Andaman & Nicobar and Lakshadweep Islands where unsinkable airfields can be built to support the fleet, and only a submarine force will better deter Chinese ambitions in the Indian Ocean.

... contd.