Advising India to focus more on its economy instead of building aircraft carrier, the state-run Chinese media today said that New Delhi should not lose direction in its eagerness to counter China's growing influence in the Indian Ocean.
In an article titled “India needs to learn that economic development comes before a naval buildup”, the state-run Global Times reminded India that China had no aircraft carriers until 2012 as its pursuit of military development was in synch with its overall economic expansion.
“As the world's second-largest economy, China is now capable of building a strong navy to safeguard the security of strategic maritime channels. China's construction of its first aircraft carrier is a result of economic development,” the article said.
Giving China’s example, the article said that the developing countries need to learn how to keep their military ambitions in check.
“The country would have finished work on it several years ago if Beijing had simply wanted to engage in an arms race to have more influence in the Asia-Pacific and Indian Ocean regions,” it added.
Referring to concerns expressed in Indian media about the rise of China's military strength, the article said that the two countries need to avert an arms race, especially at a time when China's first domestically built aircraft carrier is being prepared for launch in late April.
The article also slammed India for presenting a negative example by purchasing its first aircraft carrier from the UK in 1957.
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