Washington: China continues to develops sea, submarine and airborne capabilities to extend the strike range of missiles as part of its power projection in the Indian Ocean, despite lack of logistical and intelligence support from the littoral nations, the Pentagon has said.
The Department of Defense in its annual report ‘Military and Security Developments Involving the People’s Republic of China 2016’ submitted to Congress said the blue water power projection of the Dragon goes beyond the South China Sea and extends to Indian Ocean as a part of PLA’a ambition to be a global military player.
Besides enhancing the strike range of Anti-Ship Cruise Missile, China may also develop the capability to arm the new LUYANG III-class Guided Missile Destroyer with Land Attack Cruise Missiles, giving the PLA Navy its first land-attack capability from the sea.
“The most prominent example of PLA’s expanding ambitions was the November announcement that China is establishing a military facility in Djibouti. This is a big step forward for the PLA, which has never had an overseas facility before,” said Deputy Assistant Secretary for East Asia Abraham M Denmark. (UNI)
