Revolutionize India’s Military Strategy to Deter China: A Call for Action

Retired Rear Admiral Raja Menon, former Assistant Chief of Naval Staff and author of A Nuclear Strategy for India, recently penned a paper advocating a shift in India’s military grand strategy from a continental focus to an offensive oceanic strategy in response to the threat from China. The paper has been shared with the government.

Menon highlights that India’s defense budget exceeds Russia’s, but a significant 82% of the Army’s budget is allocated towards personnel costs, which he deems unsustainable. He emphasizes the need for a strategic reorientation, criticizing the current strategy’s flaws in terms of continental defense and funding.

With the prolonged standoff in eastern Ladakh unresolved, Krishn Kaushik interviewed Menon regarding his proposed strategy. Menon discusses the importance of developing punitive action capabilities against China, noting that India currently lacks such capabilities.

Menon emphasizes the necessity of deterring China to ensure India’s economic growth and territorial integrity. He suggests leveraging India’s maritime advantages to counter China’s weaknesses in maritime geography. By disrupting China’s oil supply routes, India could potentially induce a favorable battle scenario.

Menon proposes a series of strategic actions, including enhancing Indian Air Force capabilities in Car Nicobar, collaborating with the Quad for maritime reconnaissance, and establishing additional battlespaces to deter Chinese aggression. He stresses the importance of a comprehensive, tri-service strategy to effectively confront Chinese threats both on land and at sea.

Menon calls for a shift in India’s foreign policy approach, advocating for peaceful relations with Pakistan while adopting a firm stance against China. He underscores the need for a unified national strategy to rebalance India’s geopolitical relationships in the region.

Regarding the reliance on multilateral groupings like the Quad for defense, Menon cautions against over-dependence and instead emphasizes the importance of enhancing maritime search and intelligence sharing activities to strengthen India’s security posture.