China to be India's main long-term competitor in multiple fields: Army ex-chief Naravane

Pune, India's focus on Pakistan has been largely due to the ongoing terrorism threat, according to former Army chief General Manoj Naravane. However, he stated that China is set to become New Delhi's primary competitor across various domains in the long run. While not labeling China as an enemy, Naravane emphasized the importance of strong military deterrence to resolve longstanding differences with Beijing through dialogue.

He highlighted Pakistan and China as a unique threat category, given India's past wars and unsettled borders with both nations. Naravane made a distinction between the two countries, noting that terrorism support from Pakistan continues to be a primary concern, while China is likely to emerge as India's main competitor in the long term.

He stressed that China would compete with India across politics, economics, trade, and military affairs. Naravane advised India to manage these differences through diplomacy and diplomacy rather than resorting to force, while maintaining a credible military presence to deter potential threats. He also urged India to focus on ensuring stability in neighboring countries like Nepal, Bhutan, Bangladesh, and Myanmar, as instability could lead to refugee flows, smuggling, drug trafficking, and illegal arms movement, impacting India's peace and development.