Report by Australian think tank suggests though Indian forces occupy commanding position along Yangtse ridgeline, their "current positions may not hold up to a concerted assault".
For Beijing, the Indian Ocean region can become its strategic vulnerability. A defensive posture must be counterbalanced by offensive capability in the maritime domain.
While the Yangtse clash is another reminder of a tense LAC, defence personnel say they see it as a stand-alone incident and not part of a larger Chinese strategy.
The lessons of earlier American regime-change efforts should be obvious. The dismantling of Iran’s regime could lead to the breakdown of state authority and the rise of warlords.
Major energy infrastructure is in the crosshairs of the conflict, raising risks of the biggest shock since Russia’s invasion of Ukraine. Qatar’s largest LNG plant remains shut, fuelling supply fears.
Sinking of the ship has raised eyebrows in the Indian defence and security establishment. Lankan navy has recovered several bodies, believed to be of crew members.
The Pakistani political leadership is weak and devoid of any intellect. Its diplomacy is entirely India-China-US focused and suffers from a presumptive view of Afghanistan as a vassal.
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