China armed prowess not a worry: Antony
New Delhi, Feb. 16: Defence Minister, Mr A.K. Antony, on Wednesday said India was not unduly worried about rapid the Chinese military modernisation but that it needed to carry out a “comprehensive review of its defence preparedness.”
When asked by reporters about the high defence spending of China that is fuelling the military modernisation of that country, the minister said there was “serious concern” but that India was “not unduly worried.”
Delivering his address at the Asian Security Conference in the capital, he said that “any meaningful progress” in the dialogue with Pakistan can only be made when Pakistan takes concrete steps to address India's concerns on the 26/11 Mumbai terror attack.
“We are not unduly concerned about China’s military modernisation but we need to carry out a comprehensive review of our defence preparedness and remain vigilant at all times,” Mr Antony said in his keynote address. He emphasised that the “complicated border issue (with China) can be settled only through dialogue and discussions.”
On Pakistan, he said, “We have just concluded the foreign secretary-level talks with Pakistan which demonstrates a desire on the part of both nations to carry forward the dialogue process. However, any meaningful progress can be made only when Pakistan takes concrete steps to address India’s concerns on the 26/11 Mumbai terror attack.”
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