India may rise as regional power
Monday, March 28, 2005India's March 26 announcement that it intends to build its first indigenous aircraft carrier, and recent American overtures aimed at greater defense cooperation to help make India a "major power," speculation is rife as to the future geopolitical consequences for the Asian region and the world.
In the wake ofIndia's rise to greater military power may serve as a counterbalance to China in the Asian region. China is interested in developing a free trade pact with India and has made overtures in that direction, which are under consideration in India.
Indeed, China's military might is also increasing at a rapid rate as that nation's government commits an ever-greater percentage of its budget to national defense. Nonetheless, the two nations are seeking a free trade agreement (FTA), which some observers have declared as having the potential to be "the most significant event of this decade" for the Asian region.
Related stories
edit- "India to build aircraft carrier by 2012" — Wikinews, March 26, 2005
- "U.S. willing to sell F-16s to Pakistan, India" — Wikinews, March 26, 2005
- "U.S. unveils plans to help India become a "major world power"" — Wikinews, March 26, 2005
Sources
edit- Sonal Joshi. "China-India Free Trade Agreement (FTA) can be the most significant event of this decade – China pushes for FTA" — India Daily, March 25, 2005
- AFP. "China's military budget to grow by 12.6 percent" — Agence France Presse, March, 4 2005
- "China military budget up 12.6pc" — The Australian, March 4, 2005