Web exclusive: India extends defence support to Myanmar, crucial to prevent Chinese stronghold

By Snehashree Mukherjee

India is considering supplying arms totheMyanmar's government in astrong sign ofsupportata time when Western countries are stepping up pressure onthe Myanmar government to let-up the ongoing violence against the Rohingya Muslims of its northwestern Rakhine state.

Defenceanalysts, however, say that this move is crucial given the 16,000 km of shared land border between India and Myanmar and its porous nature.

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“The fact thattheMyanmar Armychief on his visit to India met theIndianPMNarendra Modiandthe Indiandefenceminister,points clearly to the fact thatIndia is trying to preventaChinesestronghold in Burma,"defenceanalystLt-GenRajKadyan(Retd)said.

Emphasisingon the geo-political importance of Indo-Myanmardefenceties, Lt-GenKadyansaid:"Indiashares 16,000kmof land border and maritime border in Andaman Sea and Bay of Bengal. Apart from that Arunachal Pradesh, Nagaland, Mizoram and Manipur sharethe border withMyanmar, and we are talking about porous border as the areas are all hilly.”

“Thewell-placedunderstanding betweenMyanmarand Indian Army is such that soldiers from both side, in chase ofmilitants,might even cross the border.Recently,Indian army killed twomilitantsat Indo-Myanmarborder.”

Commenting further on India's decision to discuss enhancingmilitarycooperation with its easternneighbourand training Myanmar sailorsin some of India'stopcourses taught to its army officers at elite Indiandefenceinstitutions, hesaid:"Indiaand Myanmar had officers fordefenceexchangeprogrammeseven in the past. There are many Indian army officers who have been trained atMyanmardefenceinstitutions for UN peacekeeping programmes. Also,Myanmarnavy officers,amongst other trainees from different countries,are part of exchangeprogrammesunderthedefencesector. ”

FormerIndianambassador to MyanmarGautamMukherjeesaid: “Suchdefencerelations are for capacity building and has been growing steadily over the years.” Reflecting on the past relations headded:"It'smainly fromyear2000 that India- Myanmar has made conscious effort to improve bilateral ties. It happenedmainlyafter Suu Kyi's release from house arrest and President Thein Sein's USDPascent topower.”

“Otherwise,inthepast, we also have incidents wherewell-to-do Indians who dominated the Myanmar economyleftduring the pro-democracy agitationsof 1988.”

When asked if Indo-Myanmardefenceties give any message regardingtheRohingya issue,Mukherjeesaid:"TheRohingyasarea national issue(for India).The decision of deportingRohingyashas nothing to do with Indo-Myanmar ties.It rather deals with the national security concerns.”

On the deportation of 40,000 Rohingya Muslims,Indian homeministerRajnathSingh commented on Thursday,“Rohingya Muslims staying in India are not refugees,but illegal immigrants from Myanmar”.

OntheRohingya issueLt-GenKadyanalso concurred, "Whenit comes to nationalsecurity, one must not enter into any mode of debate. As far ashumanitariangrounds are concerned, India is providing aid to Bangladesh to support the Rohingya refugees."

On Wednesday, thecommander-in-chief of the Myanmar Navy,AdmiralTin Aung San metIndiandefenceminister NirmalaSitaramanand theChiefsof India's army,Navy and AirForce.Thetwo sides arediscussingthe offshore patrol boats, amilitaryofficial said.

On the other hand,Britainsaid this week it was suspending its trainingprogrammefor the Myanmar military, demanding it takes steps to end the violence against civilians.