China will continue to be an enduring challenge for Indian Navy, says Vice Admiral K Swaminathan

In a 'worrying' situation for the Indian Navy, China's People's Liberation Army Navy (PLAN) has deployed five to eight ships in the Indian Ocean Region, Vice Admiral K Swaminathan said. Turkey and China had openly backed Pakistan during Operation Sindoor. 'We somehow thought that it might be covert, but somewhat over and a little bit. But it was undeniably overt in very clear broad daylight,' the Vice Admiral reportedly said. ALSO READ | 'Operation Sindoor proved Pakistan's nukes and rich bankers won't deter India from military action' The Vice Admiral said that the Chinese Navy has already become the largest in the world and has added a fleet to the size of the Indian Navy in just the last decade. India is aware that PLAN is expanding like never before amidst Beijing's conflict with Taiwan. Vice Admiral Swaminathan noted that the commissioning of Fujian, the third aircraft carrier of the Chinese Navy, along with the demonstration of fifth- and sixth-generation fighters, is part of the Communist nation's global strategic narrative and signalling. The first aircraft carrier designed and built completely by China, the warship features a flat flight deck with electromagnetic catapults (EMALS) for launching aircraft, allowing the fighter jets to be launched at higher speeds. Until now, only the US Navy had EMALS-equipped aircraft carriers. ALSO READ | Understanding China's Fujian aircraft carrier threat: How will the warship change PLA Navy? 'China, also worryingly for us, continues to maintain five to eight ships in the Indian Ocean Region,' the Vice Admiral was quoted as saying in PTI. This group comprises warships, research vessels, satellite tracking vessels and fishing craft, the officer pointed out. He was speaking at a security conference organised here by the Bramha Research Foundation. 'China is not only becoming more assertive in the South China Sea but also in the Indian Ocean Region. Therefore, China will continue to be an enduring challenge,' he reportedly added. Swaminathan said the emergence of Turkey as a key sponsor, supporter and supplier (to Pakistan) is a new development that has to be watched very carefully. 'This was something we had always suspected and knew. The fact that it manifested a little more than we thought, in a way, was a new eye-opener,' Swaminthan emphasised.