China will be India’s main long-term competitor, says former Army chief Naravane

China will be India’s main competitor in the long term, former Army chief General Manoj Naravane said on Thursday, while stressing that differences with Beijing should be resolved through dialogue and diplomacy.

Speaking at the launch of his book, The Curious and the Classified: Unearthing Military Myths and Mysteries, Naravane said Pakistan and China remained security challenges for India, but for different reasons.

“Pakistan and China are a totally different ballgame. We have fought wars with both of them. We have unsettled borders. So they will always remain on our radar as a threat, as a challenge,” he said.

Naravane said India’s immediate focus on Pakistan was largely driven by the continuing threat of terrorism, while China was likely to become its principal competitor over the coming years. He deliberately used the term “competitor” rather than “enemy”, he said.

According to Naravane, competition with China would span politics, economics, trade and military affairs. He said such competition could also create conflict, but India should seek to manage differences through talks and diplomatic mechanisms, with the use of force kept as a last resort.

At the same time, he stressed the need for credible military deterrence and said the armed forces must remain prepared to prevent potential “misadventure”.

On India’s wider neighbourhood, Naravane said New Delhi should work towards stability in countries including Nepal, Bhutan, Bangladesh and Myanmar. Instability in neighbouring countries could affect India through refugee flows, smuggling, drug trafficking and illegal arms movement.

“You can’t choose your neighbours, in real life also, and in geopolitics also. You have to make the best of what you have,” he said.

Naravane said a stable neighbourhood was essential for India’s peace and development. Referring to the refugee influx from Myanmar, he said instability in neighbouring countries should not be a source of satisfaction for India.

“Therefore, we need to help out these countries to be stable,” he said.

Naravane served as Army chief from December 31, 2019, to April 30, 2022. He concluded his remarks by stressing the importance of military preparedness, saying, “If you want peace, prepare for war.”