https://t.me/pdf4exams https://www.estore33.com/ https://t.

me/TheHindu_Zone_official

THE TRIBUNE
CHANDIGARH | MONDAY | 4 JUNE 2018 OPED 09

China’s ‘great leap forward’ in military tech

China’s domestic military-industrial complex has made huge advances in weapon production, turning the once weapons
importer into a lead exporter. These need to be studied for lessons and a calibrated response.
Bhartendu Kumar Singh producer AVIC and the land systems pro- focussed on production of front-end
Indian Defence Accounts Service ducer NORINCO) may be in the top 10. defence technology and weapons. In March
Most importantly, Chinese exports are 2017, China declassified some 3,000 defence

W
HEN China sent its first shifting from low-end weapons to increas- patents for civilian use. In October 2017,
domestically produced air- ingly advanced ones. For example, China President Xi Jinping announced in the 19th
craft carrier for maiden sea tri- has one of the best fourth generation fight- Party Congress grandiose plans to enter the
als recently, it joined a select er jets in J-20 and developing countries that first tier of most innovative countries by
group of countries capable of domestic can't afford to buy fifth generation aircraft 2035 and establish leadership by 2050. Chi-
production, maintenance and operation of from the US etc, won't mind settling for the na is fast developing the necessary infra-
aircraft carriers. Glorious moments same. Similarly, China has inducted Y-20, structure to achieve these milestones.
notwithstanding, China's domestic mili-
tary-industrial complex (MIC) has success-
fully achieved a 'great leap forward' in all
the heavy transport aircraft, into its PLA Air
Force in 2016 and is ideal for transporting
cargo and people over long distances in
1 First, as David Shambaugh in his book
(China's Future, Polity Press, 2016)
notes, China is investing 2.1 per cent of
segments of weapon production, turning diverse weather conditions. its GDP in R&D. A substantial portion of
the once front-ranking weapons importer China's MIC advances are being noticed this would fund defence R&D. Even with
into a lead exporter. In the process, it has in the US and elsewhere. Annual reports by the current investment trajectory, Sham-
emerged as the mainstay of China's mili- the US Department of Defence on Chinese baugh feels that China would overtake
tary power projection. military power include dedicated segments US investment figures by 2022.
Till early nineties, China's domestic MIC
was in shambles, both in quantitative and
qualitative terms. It was producing vintage
MIC'S RISING PROFILE: China’s J-15 fighter jets. AP/PTI(IMAGE TAKEN FROM CHINA'S CCTV)

aircraft, tanks and other armory that were
inferior to products available in the interna-
tional arms market. There were simply too
many men producing too little things in the
archival MIC. China's weapons require-
ment was primarily met through imports
from Russia and other sources. The budget-
ary support was limited and the MIC units
were making ends meet through conver-
sion of defence technology for civilian use
and commercial entrepreneurship. The
MIC's poor state of affairs was one of many
reasons in China's mid-nineties strategic
retreat in the Taiwan Straits.
Rise of China’s military might
Techno-nationalism: The US advances in
Revolution in Military Advances (RMA),
evident in the Gulf War of 1991, provided
the necessary impetus for China's MIC
reforms and modernisation. Since then,
China has used various tactics to consoli-
date, strengthen and expand its MIC.
Apart from liberal budgetary allocation,
China resorted to reverse-engineering
and technology-thefts, wherever possible.
Techno-nationalism was the driving force
enabling China to develop, and in due
course, lead in innovation, diffusion and
proliferation of defence technology and
research and development (R&D) in
expanding MIC. The shipbuilding indus-
try, perhaps, best exemplifies cataclysmic
advances made by MIC. China has been
producing the largest number of ocean-
going tankers and big ships for quite some
time. This also explains how China's sec-
ond aircraft carrier, built indigenously,
sprang up so fast!
From importer to exporter of weapons: Chi-
nese MIC's rising profile is evident in Chi-
na's role reversal in the international
weapons market. A decade back, China was
the world's largest arms importer. However,
as per the latest SIPRI figures, China was
the fifth largest arms exporter in 2013-17,
accounting for 6 per cent of the global sales.
Its arms exports rose by 38 per cent
between 2008-12 and 2013-17. China exports
weapons to 55 countries worldwide, cover-
ing Asia, West Asia and Latin America, and
many of its clients are developing countries.
South Asian neighbours of India (except
Bhutan) heavily depend upon Chinese
weapons supplies. Though Chinese arms
companies are not covered by the SIPRI
Fact Sheet (December 2017) on top 100 arms
producing and military services companies
due to lack of data; based on military spend-
ing, China's arms sales and limited infor-
mation on individual companies, at least 9
to 10 companies would almost certainly be
in the top 100 if figures for arms sales were
available. Of these, four to six would proba-
bly be in the top 20; and two (the aircraft
in Chinese advances in weapons produc-
tion. Additionally, the US China Commis-
sion (USCC) takes authoritative updates
from various sources about the narrowing
gap between the US and Chinese military
scorecards. For example, on May 12 this
year, the USCC heard from the Jane's
(reputed publishers on defence matters) on
China's advanced weapons systems. The
core hypothesis of the 250-page document,
ie about the US lead being eroded, is alarm-
ing for Pentagon since Chinese advances
may have a potentially disruptive impact on
global security.
Plan to be world leader
China's domestic MIC maturity and its con-
sequential rise notwithstanding, Beijing is
aware that 'technological parity' with the
US is a distant milestone. This has com-
pelled China to design a strategic plan to
overtake the US. The 13th five-year science
and technology plan, announced in 2016,
along with 'make in China plan 2025'are
2 China has 52 per cent of university
students graduating in science and
technology every year. This talent pool
would enhance research in MIC.
3 China has the best model of civil-mili-
tary integration on dual use of technol-
ogy, unlike other countries where the two
are often in competition and conflict.
4 As the second largest economy, with a
complete integration with the global
market, China could pillion-ride on front-
end technology available at competitive
rates elsewhere for defence purposes.
The emergence of a powerful and innova-
tive MIC in China is influencing Chinese
behavioural outcome towards its neigh-
bours and great powers. China is supplying
weapons at competitive rates and playing
alliance and coalition-building exercises.
Chinese advances in MIC, therefore, need
to be studied carefully for iterating the les-
sons and a calibrated response.
Views are personal

Remembering Mountbatten’s June 3 Plan

RK Kaushik sent Lord Ismay, his Chief of Staff, with the Notably, Lord Ismay was earlier Sir Win- ment, which was formally approved by the
Secretary, Government of Punjab plan on May 2 to London which was ston Churchill's Military Staff officer. He Partition Council. At the time of his appoint-
approved by the British Cabinet. It said that assisted Mountbatten in partition matters. ment, Radcliffe was Vice-President of the

I
NDIA’S then Governor-General and
Viceroy Lord Mountbatten addressed
the nation over All India Radio on June
3, 1947. He announced his 3rd June
Plan, according to which India would be
given independence on August 15, 1947.
Under this Plan, the British would trans-
fer power to two successor authorities — the
Congress and the Muslim League. In terri-
torial terms, the dominions of India and
Pakistan would remain within the British
Commonwealth. British paramountcy over
559 princely states in India would not be
transferred to the two dominions and, con-
Lord Mountbatten. sequently, would lapse constitutionally. The
princely states would be free to join either of
the two dominions. The third option of
The 3rd June Plan of them becoming independent and not join-
India’s partition led to ing either dominion was kept open. This
was denied to the British Indian provinces.
the migration of more Those were melancholic times: Khizar
Hayat Tiwana's government had resigned
than 13 million people, in Punjab on March 2, 1947 and communal
savage death to a riots had started in Rawalpindi and other
cities of Punjab. Initially, the then Governor
million innocent, of Punjab, Sir Evan Jenkins (ICS 1920), had
overnight forcible thought of inviting the Muslim League
leader, the Nawab of Mamdot, to form a gov-
change of religion of ernment in Punjab, but later he decided
about 2 lakh and against it and Governor's rule was imposed.
Lord Mountbatten arrived in India on
kidnapping of about March 22, 1947.
After consulting Indian leaders, he made
80,000 women. a plan known as DICKIE Bird Plan and
each of the 11 provinces of British India and
each of the 559 princely states would be giv-
en the option to join India or Pakistan or
remain independent. However, Nehru
opposed this as he felt that it would Balka-
nise India, allowing tens of little nation
states to emerge. Fearing that opposition by
the Congress might end his career, Lord
Mountbatten sought advice from the then
Secretary of State's Department, VP
Menon, who advised that power be trans-
ferred to two independent British Domin-
ions, India and Pakistan. This was opposed
by Mohammed Ali Jinnah, who wanted ref-
erendum in the North West Frontier
Province (NWFP) and Baluchistan.
VP Menon had suggested that Mountbat-
ten give an assurance to Nehru and Sardar
Patel that Britain would oppose the prince-
ly states becoming independent, and
instead persuade them to join either of the
two new nation states (which would ensure
that 90 per cent of them would join India) in
exchange for Congress support of a fresh
'reference to the electorate' in the NWFP
and Baluchistan. In less than half a day, this
new plan was adopted by Mountbatten and
presented to Nehru, who was much more
receptive. However, in the process, he was
successful in getting the proposal dearest to
Britain accepted, which meant dominion
status for India and Pakistan and the sepa-
ration of Baluchistan and the NWFP from
India and giving that to Pakistan.
Mountbatten now went to London with
his final plan of partition and transfer of
power. Prime Minister Sir Clement Attlee's
Cabinet endorsed the plan, and Sir Winston
Churchill (hitherto glowering at every twist
and turn of what he saw as Britain's capitu-
lation to Congress) was delighted that India
had agreed to dominion status. Mountbat-
ten showed him written evidence of Con-
gress' support. And when told that Jinnah
had not yet endorsed the plan, Churchill
retorted, "It is a matter of life and death for
Pakistan to accept this offer with both
hands. By god! He (Jinnah) is one man who
cannot do without British help."
On June 3, 1947, Mountbatten was able to
bring Nehru, Patel, JB Kripalani (as Con-
gress president) Baldev Singh, Jinnah,
Liaquat Ali Khan and Abdur Rab Nishtar,
around a conference table, where they col-
lectively endorsed Mountbatten's plan,
under the watchful gaze of Lord Ismay.
As per the plan, a Boundary Commission
(eventually headed by Sir Cyril Radcliffe, a
London barrister who had never previously
visited India), was formed as suggested by
Lord Listowel, Secretary of State for India,
which was tasked to delineate the precise
boundaries between India and Pakistan in
the provinces of Bengal and Punjab. Rad-
cliffe had worked with Mountbatten earlier
and since he had never been to British
India, he was considered unbiased. Both
Nehru and Jinnah agreed to the appoint-
London Bar Association.
According to this 3rd June Mountbatten
Plan, a referendum would be held in the
NWFP (as Nehru had agreed earlier), and
another in the Muslim-majority Sylhet dis-
trict of Assam (the rest of which would
remain in India). Remarkably, no referen-
dum was called for the Chittagong Hill
Tracts, where non-Muslims (Buddhists,
Hindus and Christians) were in a strong
majority or for the cities of Karachi or
Hyderabad, Sindh, (with clear non-Muslim
majorities) as they would almost certainly
have voted to remain within India.
Jinnah had deputed Iskander Mirza to
start a jihad in the NWFP when referendum
was held there in July 1947. Iskander Mirza
was a great grandson of traitor Mir Jafar,
who had conceded to Lord Clive in the Bat-
tle of Plassey in 1757, after taking huge
bribes. Iskander Mirza was later rewarded
with presidentship of Pakistan in the 1950s.
It can be summed up that seldom any
'plan' in history had such a walloping, nay
humungous and searing, effect on human-
ity as the 3rd June Plan had because it led
to the migration of more than 13 million
people, savage death to a million innocent,
overnight forcible change of religion of
about 2 lakh and kidnapping of about
80,000 women.
The tremors generated by that plan are
still felt — after 71 years — in millions of
households in South Asia.

on this day... 100 years ago quick crossword su do ku forecast

SATURDAY’S HARD SUNSET: MONDAY 19:22 HRS
SOLUTION
SUNRISE: TUESDAY 05:20 HRS
Across
1 Decide, 4 Cliche,
9 6
Lahore,tuesday, June 4, 1918.

Defence Force Meeting.

9 Vivaldi, 10 Taunt,
11 Catch, 12 5 4 3 Sunny Partly Cloudy Cloudy
CITY MAX
Rainy
MIN
Foggy

Impasse, 13 In a
THE meeting to encourage recruitment to the Indian Defence
Force which had to be adjourned, was continued on Sunday last.
nutshell, 18
Outsize, 20 Rider,
8 2 5 Chandigarh 39
New Delhi 40
29
29
PUNJAB
The Hon'ble Mr. Justice Shadi Lal, President of the Central 22 Froze, 23
Recruitment Committee, was again voted to the chair on the Unaided, 24 Likely, 6 5 3 Amritsar 42 27
motion of Raja Narendra Nath. Shrimati Sarala Devi Chaudhrani 25 Adhere. Bathinda 44 29
in an eloquent speech moved the resolution that as decided by the
Down 1 5 6 Jalandhar
Ludhiana
41
40
27
28
Central Committee for recruitment of Indian Defence Force, dis- 1 Device, 2 Covet,
trict committees be formed. She examined the criticism made by
some people that the call of the Empire was not the call of the coun-
3 Dolphin, 5 Let-
up, 6 Counsel, 7
7 8 5 Patiala
HARYANA
39 27

try and that the duty did not lie on the people until they were giv- Ambala 39 27
en a share in the Government. The speaker said as regards the first
Esteem, 8 Nip in
the bud, 14 8 2 3 Bhiwani 45 29
contention those who shut their eyes to the presence or possibility Network, 15 Hisar 44 29
of danger lived in a fool's paradise, and ignored the danger in case Harvard, 16
Woeful, 17 Grudge,
2 4 7 Karnal 38 25
of disorder from the grip of the frontier freebooter. To the latter Sirsa 44 30
1 6
19 Ideal, 21
class of critics she replied that half a loaf was better than no bread HIMACHAL PRADESH
Dodge.
and if they rose to the occasion, the other half would follow soon. Dharamsala 33 23
Manali 26 12
The War.
ALTHOUGH the latest news from the Western Front is somewhat
Saturday’s solution calendar Nahan 34 22
ACROSS 19 Devious (7) 5 Acute water shortage (7) Shimla 28 16
reassuring, in as much as the advance of the enemy is reported � � � � � � � � � June 4, 2018 Monday
Solan 33 20
1 Having lofty principles 21 Including many items (7) 6 Trip in a car (5) ■ Vikrami Samvat 2075
to have been checked, there is little doubt that one of the fiercest (4-6) 22 Large bay window (5) 7 Shabby (4-2-4) � � � � � � � � � ■ Shaka Samvat 1940 JAMMU & KASHMIR
battles of the whole war is being fought. It is difficult to believe 8 Overturn (5) 23 Seeking to avoid notice 8 Engaged in wrongdoing � � � � � � � � � ■ Jyeshtha Shaka 14 Jammu 41 29
■ Jyeshtha Parvishte 22
that this battle or any battle that may be fought in the immediate � � � � � � � � � Hijari 1439 Leh 26 08
9 Conditional stipulation (7) (3-7) (2,2,2,4) ■
future will be decisive. At the same time there is much force in � � � � � � � � � ■ Krishan Paksha Tithi 5 up to Srinagar 32 14
the comment of a French journal that Germany herself is seek-
10 Instructor (7) 13 Medieval weapon (7) 6.53 am
� � � � � � � � � Ender Yog up to 10.03 pm UTTARAKHAND
ing a decision for long months, for every day she realises more 11 Gather facts bit by bit (5) DOWN 15 Original (7) ■
■ Shravan Nakshatra up to Dehradun 35 23
12 Annoy (6) 2 Immediate (7) 16 Intermittent hot spring (6) � � � � � � � � � 3.05 pm
and more that time is against her. The Allies have only to hold Mussoorie 23 16
their ground sufficiently long for their object to be realised. 14 Exact (6) 3 Concoct in secret (5) 18 Abolish (5) � � � � � � � � � ■ Moon enters Aquarius sign at
4.34 am Nainital 24 15
17 Small hard particle (5) 4 Communicate (6) 20Distant (5) � � � � � � � � � ■ Panchak starts 4.34 am TEMPERATURE IN OC