China’s advances in cyber, space domains worrisome: General Bipin Rawat

Bengaluru, October 22

Chief of Defence Staff General Bipin Rawat on Friday said India faces a myriad of external security challenges and most worrisome were China’s technological advances in the cyber and space domains.

He was speaking at the three-day Indian Air Force Conclave, which was inaugurated by Defence Minister Rajnath Singh at Yelahanka Air Force Station here, to commemorate 50 years of victory in the 1971 India-Pak war, which is being celebrated this year as “Swarnim Vijay Varsh”.

“India faces a myriad of external security challenges with deep regional interlinkages, marred by legacy of unresolved boundary disputes, culture of competition and challenge to undermining India’s strategic space,” Rawat said.

He said, “India is also witnessing geo-strategic competition in the Indo-Pacific, including race for strategic bases in the Indian Ocean region, and increasing militarisation of Belt and Road outposts in the region by northern adversary China.”

“Most worrisome are China’s technological advances in the spheres of cyber and space domain, which often transcend beyond the military, to include critical national infrastructure as well,” he said, adding that the recent incidents on the northern borders along with aggressive posturing will remain a cornerstone of China’s expansionist foreign policy of which India has to always be wary about.

On Pakistan, the CDS said its continued sponsoring of cross-border terrorism, a vicious anti-India rhetoric on social media, and efforts to create social disharmony within India, makes the trust gap between India and that county appear to be “unbridgeable”.

Chief of the Air Staff Air Chief Marshal VR Chaudhari, Defence Secretary Ajay Kumar and Karnataka Revenue Minister R Ashoka were present at the event. — PTI

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