China concerned by US-India surveillance drones deal

Ads11

Ads2

China is keenly watching the defence deals set to be inked by the Prime Minister Narendra Modi and US President Donald trump in Washington on Monday, with particular eye on the attention on the deal for surveillance drones that would boost India's capabilities in the Indian Ocean, Chinese experts have said.

The agreement for around 22 unarmed surveillance drones is among the agreements on the agenda, while a deal for co-producing F-16 fighter aircraft was also finalised before the visit between Lockheed Martin and Tata.

Han Hua, a leading Chinese strategist who is Director of the Center for Arms Control and Professor at the School of International Studies at Peking University, told to reporters."Some people in China are in a little concerned. Still, it is not the most advanced technology being shared for example when you look at the F-16s. But that is only one issue of defence cooperation. There is also the transfer of surveillance drones in the Indian Ocean. It will increase India's capability to have a view over the entire Indian Ocean. That is more symbolic than the F-16 joint production."

Ads3