Indian Navy concerned over Sino-Bur

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Indian Navy concerned over Sino-Burmese ties

The Asian Age (New Delhi), 28/9/97

New Delhi, Sept. 27: The Indian Navy is maintaining a strict vigil on
naval bases and communications facilities in Burma in view of the
increased cooperation between China and Burma in the defence sector.

Sources told The Asian Age there was adequate surveillance" on the naval
base on the Burmese island of Hianggyi and the communications facility
on Coco island, both of which were developed with Chinese assistance.
"We will take action and make suitable deployment if required."

China's growing naval capability has been a cause for concern for most
Asian nations which are dependent on routes in the Indian Ocean for
exports and import of energy resources from West Asia.

"Maritime Cooperation in the Indian Ocean," originally carried in the
Joumal of Indian Ocean Studies and featured in a recent issue of the
journal of the Indian armed forces, 'Sainik Samachar' said China's
assertive politics towards Taiwan have gained international publicity
but "its increased interest in the seas around India have not been
adequately noted." The article further said reports indicated that China
had assisted Burma in the construction of naval and electronic
facilities since mid-1992. China has provided Burma with over $ 1.6
billion worth of arms over the past five years, the journal added.


Most of the reports related to the modemisation of the naval base on
Hianggyi island at the mouth of the Bassein river, the development of
naval infrastructure at Akyub and Mergui and the construction of a
signals intelligence facility on Coco island, 30 nautical miles from the
Andaman islands. The article said "some 70 Chinese naval and technical
personnel were believed to have arrived" on the Coco island to install
new radar equipment which would enable the Chinese military to monitor
Indian naval communications and "possibly even India's ballistic
rffissile tests off its Eastern coast." Reports confirmed participation
of Chinese personnel in the development and construction of these
facilities. 'The Chinese presence in the Burmese bases assumes
significance in the light of the country's well-established defence lies
with Pakistan," the sources said. Although "preliminary assessments
indicate that the Hianggyi base will be too small to host Chinese
surface warships of the size required for operations in the Indian
Ocean," it could be used to support Chinese submarine operations.