Hope maritime neighbours are sensitive to our security concerns: Defence Secretary

Unprecedented expansion of conventional navies can start a “new genre” of arms race, he says

Stating that to achieve high growth it is imperative to secure a free, open and inclusive maritime region where legitimate interests of all nations must be respected, Defence Secretary Ajay Kumar said on Monday India hopes that its maritime neighbours understand and are sensitive to India’s “legitimate maritime security concerns” and “unprecedented expansion” of conventional navies can start a “new genre” of arms race.

“While we talk of non-traditional threats, we cannot ignore the impact of expansion at an unprecedented speed of conventional navies in the Pacific. We are also witnessing enhancement of certain maritime presence and passages in our region, which may not be always be innocent. The negative effects of such rapid expansion are felt far beyond the Pacific,” Mr. Kumar said without naming any country. “Though it is early to conclude, such expansion has potential to trigger others to acquire additional capabilities and thus start a new genre of arms race.”

China has not only (IOR) but has also set up a base in Djibouti and is also expanding its Navy at an unprecedented rate.