Why Agni-V? India spooked by China, says global media

While India successfully upgraded its defence arsenal by testing its first long-range ballistic missile Agni-V, saying it is meant to act as a deterrent, the foreign press reads it to be a knee-jerk reaction to China’s military capacity. The New York Times writes that the test, though long planned by India, comes at a time of “growing international apprehension about militarization of Asia and a stepped-up strategic rivalry between the United States and China in Asia.” It attributes China’s double-digit increase in military spending as the reason behind India’s drive to becoming the world’s top arms buyer, dethroning China. It goes on to say that the test “increases the perception of an arms race, and the reality of an arms race, in East Asia, particularly between China and India.” [caption id=“attachment_281434” align=“alignleft” width=“380” caption=“Test firing Agni-V. Reuters”]  [/caption] “The timing of the missile launching may be seen as particularly antagonistic,” it quotes Graeme Herd, head of the international security programme at the Geneva Center for Security Policy, as saying. The BBC echoes this perceived paranoia, linking the nuclear tests conducted by India in May 1998 to the same rationale. It further says:

Indian military planners remain apprehensive over China’s nuclear-capable DF21 intermediate-range ballistic missile (IRBM) and its many variants which have ranges of 1,500km-2,250km. These are deployed across Tibet and south-west China and are capable of striking major Indian cities, including Delhi. India’s arsenal of IRBMs, on the other hand, includes the Agni-I, Agni-II and Agni-III with ranges of between 700-800km, 2,000-2,300km and over 3,500km respectively… The shorter-range Agni-I and II were developed with nuclear rival Pakistan in mind. The Agni III, however, is directed at Chinese military and nuclear assets ranged in Tibet, a region of increasing strategic significance to both Delhi and Beijing.

The Guardian sees the test as India’s attempt at securing a permanent seat at the UN security council. According to the paper, it’s ambitions are not limited to deterring the unreasonable guys in the neighbourhood, but stretch all the way to America, and Agni-V was just a  prelude. It quotes  Harsh Pant, a defence expert at King’s College, London: “It is one of the ways of signalling India’s arrival on the global stage, that India deserves to be sitting at the high table.” It further projects:

Thursday’s launch may prompt a renewed push from within India’s defence establishment to build a fully fledged intercontinental ballistic missile (ICBM) programme capable of reaching the Americas, though some of India’s allies may bridle at such an ambition.

Voices from China however, are expectedly retaliatory, blaming the West for going easy on India’s defence spending.  It also warns India to not underestimate China’s capabilities. The Global Times, one of China’s leading English daily, writes:

…the West chooses to overlook India’s disregard of nuclear and missile control treaties. The West remains silent on the fact that India’s military spending increased by 17 percent in 2012 and the country has again become the largest weapons importer in the world. India should not overestimate its strength. Even if it has missiles that could reach most parts of China, that does not mean it will gain anything from being arrogant during disputes with China. India should be clear that China’s nuclear power is stronger and more reliable. For the foreseeable future, India would stand no chance in an overall arms race with China.  

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