Agni-V: India should not overestimate its strength, says China

Beijing: While China reacted cautiously to India’s test of Agni V missile, saying that the two countries were not rivals and had “sound” relations, some in the establishment feel the test can lead to another round of arms race in the region. “China has taken note of reports on India’s missile launch. The two countries have sound relationship. During the recent BRICS meeting in Delhi, the leadership arrived at a consensus to take the relationship further and to push forward bilateral strategic cooperative partnership,” Chinese Foreign Ministry spokesman Liu Weimin said on Thursday. [caption id=“attachment_281869” align=“alignleft” width=“380” caption=“AP”]  [/caption] Diplomatic sources in the Chinese embassy in Delhi , however, said the “Agni V launch can give rise to another round of arms race in this part of the world”. They also criticised the Indian media’s commentary on the launch of the missile, saying it was provocative. Asked whether China was concerned that Agni V, which has a range of 5,000 km, can strike deep inside China, Liu said: “Both the countries are emerging powers. We are not rivals. We are cooperative partners. We should cherish the hard-earned momentum of cooperation.” Global Times, on the other hand, came out with a strong editorial criticising the test. “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,” Global Times, the influential tabloid of the Communist Party, said. “India should be clear that China’s nuclear power is stronger, more reliable. For the foreseeable future, India would stand no chance. India should also not overstate the value of its Western allies and the profits it could gain from participating in a containment of China. If it equates long-range strategic missiles with deterrence of China, and stirs up further hostility, it could be sorely mistaken.” PTI