'Sino-Indian rivalry over Indian Ocean out in open'

Excerpts from Power Breakfast on CNBC-TV18 Watch the full show » RELATED NEWS The Brand That China Built The big bad dragon How does India fare against its BRIC peers? FICCI urges focus on five trade areas with China Chinese President Hu Jintao to arrive in Delhi today Nifty BSE | NSE 25/05/12 Are Mutual Funds betting on Nifty?

It's Navy Day today and India's Navy Chief has warned that Sino-Indian rivalry is spilling over to the seas. He says India must take steps to counter the Chinese threat from the sea, reports CNBC-TV18.

On December 4, 1971, the Indian Navy earned its spurs as a war fighting force by launching a blistering attack on Karachi. The day has since been observed as Navy Day. Ahead of Navy Day, India's Naval leadership has outlined the new threats from the sea to India's security.

"China is, therefore, we believe, developing a certain amount of, in our terms, we call it shaping the maritime battlefield," says Chief of Naval Staff, Admiral Sureesh Mehta.

The Asian rivalry to dominate the Indian Ocean Region is now out into the open. And India has made its unease over increasing Chinese presence clear.

"Policies are always made 20 years ahead. So they're looking far ahead. We also need to look far ahead and make sure we have the capability," he adds.

The Navy also insists that Chinese companies be kept out of port modernization projects. According to Admiral Sureesh Mehta, "The date, which is of a sensitive nature like hydrology, if that gets known to a nation, which may be inimical to you in the years ahead, then it's a cause for concern."

The Admiral's concern is that most Indian warships can operate only in shallow waters whereas naval superiority will be determined on the high seas. So, plug the gaps now or face the prospect of hostile forces, determinging the agenda in the waters around India - that is the Indian Navy's warning.