China's Djibouti plan can pose a threat to India. China can deploy aircraft carriers, large warships, and submarines at its first foreign military base in Djibouti. This has been said in the annual report of the US Department of Defense. This report has been presented in the US Congress, which was released on Sunday i.e. 27 November. The US report states that this move by China could pose serious security challenges for the Indian Navy in the Indian Ocean region.
According to reports, construction is going on here since 2016 for $590 million. After building this naval base, China is expanding its power from the Indian Ocean to the South China Sea. This base is strategically located near the important Bab-el-Mandeb Strait. This strait separates the Gulf of Aden and the Red Sea. Djibouti is a country lying on the way of one of the busiest shipping routes (the Suez Canal).
Compared to other neighboring countries in Africa, the political situation in Djibouti is stable. Naval base expert HI Sutton said that the Djibouti base was being designed to withstand a direct attack.
Ship deployment was seen at base
Pictures related to China's Djibouti plan have come to the fore. Satellite images from Maxar showed a Chinese Yuzhao class (Type-071) landing ship. It is docked at a 320-meter-long dockyard. A helicopter landing facility is also available at this dockyard. Vice Admiral Shekhar Sinha (retd) had said that the base appeared to be fully operational. There is a possibility of more construction work.
The size of the Chinese Type-071 landing ship is quite large. It can carry multiple tanks, trucks, and hovercraft with it. Navy knowledgeable Sutton told that more powerful ships are joining the Chinese Fleet. Based on their size and capability, it can be said that they are being used for important logistics supply and transport missions.
Yuzhao class ships are capable of dealing with ground-air attacks
The Yuzhao class ships have been designed as the most important warships of the Chinese task force. These ships are also capable of dealing with ground and air attacks. The Chinese Navy has commissioned a total of 8 ships of this category in its fleet at different stages.
The presence of another Chinese ship 'Changbai Shan' has been seen at this base. It is a large 25,000-tonne ship, designed to carry 800 troops and vehicles, air-cushioned landing craft, and helicopters. It is believed to have entered Indian Ocean waters this year with a frontline Chinese destroyer.
Djibouti is buried under Chinese debt
The pictures of the entire Chinese naval base in Djibouti come as China docked the Yuan Wang 5, a 25,000-tonne satellite and ballistic missile tracking ship, in Sri Lanka's Hambantota port. Seeing the danger of espionage, India lodged a protest with Sri Lanka regarding this.
China's presence in both Sri Lanka and Djibouti is linked to its economic investments in both countries under the long-term 'Belt and Road Initiative. Djibouti is also buried under the debt of China. This debt is more than 70% of Djibouti's GDP. At the same time, China has occupied the port of Sri Lanka for 99 years.
China's strategy to increase maritime influence
Former Indian Navy Chief Admiral Arun Prakash told NDTV that India should have no illusions about China's maritime intentions or capabilities. It has been 14 years since he started the Standing Patrol in the African country. Initially, we had doubts that how China could operate such a remote base. But they have shown that they can do it. They have kept the ships stationed at the station for 6 to 9 months.
What we are witnessing today is part of a well-planned and well-thought-out strategy to increase China's maritime influence. Under this, China has already operated a nuclear-powered attack submarine in the Indian Ocean. We can also see a large group of warships in this sea area. Top commanders of the US Navy have also warned about this.
Admiral Harry Harris Jr., the then commander of the US Pacific Command, had said in 2017 that today no one can stop China from taking ships to the Indian Ocean.
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