China overtakes the US in its Ships Numbers, Now approaching 12 nations including Pakistan to set up PLA bases: Pentagon
China is looking towards setting up logistical bases in the Indo-Pacific region and eyes establishing PLA facilities in a dozen nations including Pakistan, Sri Lanka and Myanmar as it is now home to the largest Navy in the world By Numbers, the Pentagon in its detailed report to the US Congress on Tuesday said.
China’s nearly 350 warships and submarines that include 130 major surface combatants are greater in number than US Navy’s force-level of 293 warships, as per the report, although the US Navy is technologically more advanced with 11 super 100,000-tone aircraft carries. Indian officials say China is building two more aircraft carriers, targeting having 10 in all.
With its expanding military might including long-range missiles, naval submarines, nuclear submarines, integrated air defence, space and electronic warfare capabilities, China is preparing to double its nuclear warheads in the coming decade.
Myanmar, Thailand, Singapore, Indonesia, the UAE, Kenya, Seychelles, Tanzania, Angola and Tajikistan are other countries on China’s radar for setting up its military bases.
The Pentagon report is likely to ring an alarm in New Delhi as Beijing vies to expand its footprint in the Indian Ocean Region where it has already established its overseas base at Djibouti on the Horn of Africa in August 2017. In Pakistan, it already benefits from access to the Karachi and Gwadar ports.
Any country providing logistic base to Chinese PLAN should remain in no doubt that in case of hostilities between India and China, all these bases will be struck and destroyed immediately by both the Indian Navy and the IAF.
