India worried as China gets close to Seychelles
Possible refuelling stop revives New Delhi's fears of Beijing encircling it

Ravi Velloor, South Asia Bureau Chief

NEW DELHI: China has confirmed that it is considering using the Seychelles as a refuelling port for its navy ships participating in anti-piracy operations off Africa, reviving fears in India that it is being encircled by its Asian rival.

The Seychelles development came days after the Asian giants concluded their annual defence secretary-level talks by agreeing to maintain peace and tranquillity along their uneasy frontier.

It caps a tense year between the two nations, which share a 4,000km border and are jockeying for influence in the region.

The announcement from Beijing about the Seychelles came after a visit by Chinese Defence Minister Liang Guanglie, the first time a Chinese defence official of that stature has visited the islands. Seychelles Foreign Minister Jean-Paul Adam said the country had invited China to set up a military presence to help fight pirate attacks on the islands.

China denied that it was establishing a military base there, and noted that it has used other ports like Djibouti for its anti-piracy missions.

Said the Chinese Defence Ministry in a statement: 'According to escort needs and the needs of other long-distance missions, China will consider taking supplies or recuperating at appropriate ports in the Seychelles and other countries.'

The Seychelles is already host to a United States drone facility and receives arms and military training from India, a factor that has added to the surprise over the development.

Indian analysts frequently warn of being strategically choked by a China that has access to naval facilities, from Myanmar in the east to Gwadar, Pakistan, in the west. The so-called 'string of pearls' also supposedly includes Hambantota on Sri Lanka's southern tip, a transhipment port being constructed for Colombo by China.

'This is a serious development,' said China watcher Mandip Singh from the Institute for Defence Studies and Analyses in New Delhi. 'China seems to have got a toehold in the country, despite the presence there of both the US and India. The question is, will the toehold turn into a foothold''

India itself has embarked on a rapid military expansion and modernisation plan to counter what officials here say are China's moves in Tibet and Pakistan. It is also swiftly building ties with Vietnam, China's southern neighbour, by conducting joint prospecting for oil in the disputed South China Sea and gaining access to Vietnamese naval facilities.

While there have been no border incidents along their shared frontier, India says China tends to conduct 'aggressive patrolling' of the border.

Last month, the two called off border talks at the last minute over Chinese objections to a Buddhist conference in the Indian capital to be addressed by the Dalai Lama. A few days later, West Bengal Governor M. K. Narayanan, a former national security adviser, ignored Chinese objections and made a joint appearance with the Dalai Lama in Kolkata.

For that reason, the annual defence talks, the fourth in a series, had been closely watched.

'The dialogue was conducted in an atmosphere of cordiality,' the Indian Defence Ministry said after hosting General Ma Xiaotian, deputy chief of the People's Liberation Army. 'Both sides discussed the programme of defence exchanges for 2012, and agreed that the range and scope of exchanges at various levels would be gradually enhanced.'

But the talks, analysts say, are small compensation for the cancellation or postponement of several high-level exchanges, including what was planned to be the biggest of them all - a trip to New Delhi by Chinese Vice-President Xi Jinping, who is also vice-chairman of the Central Military Commission.

Now, Indian officials confirm that a planned trip to New Delhi by Mr Xi will not take place this year. India was keen to host Mr Xi before his much-awaited elevation to president.

Mr Xi is expected to succeed President Hu Jintao next year.

'We won't be seeing Xi this year,' a senior Indian official said, speaking on condition that he is not identified by name or ministry. 'This hasn't been a good year for visits from China. Neither their foreign minister nor foreign secretary came, and it was their turn this time.'

Indian officials say they are trying to put the border talks back on the rails.

The Seychelles' offer to allow Chinese ships to rest and resupply came as China yesterday sent its largest patrol ship, the Haijian-50, to the East China Sea for its maiden voyage, in what Xinhua news agency described as 'a bid to guard the country's territorial rights and marine interests'.

Meanwhile, Mr Hu is expected to visit New Delhi in late March next year for the annual summit of the Brics nations - comprising Brazil, Russia, India, China and South Africa - but diplomatic sources say extending the visit to add bilateral content is proving to be a struggle.

Indian Foreign Minister S. M. Krishna will probably visit Beijing in February next year on a fence-mending mission.