China poses India's main long-term competitive challenge: ex-Army chief

General Manoj Naravane, who recently stepped down as India's Army chief, has articulated a strategic assessment placing China as New Delhi's foremost long-term adversary, even as Pakistan continues to demand security attention due to persistent cross-border terrorism.

Addressing an audience at the launch of his book 'The Curious and the Classified: Unearthing Military Myths and Mysteries,' Naravane distinguished between India's security challenges from its two major neighbours. While acknowledging that India shares unresolved borders and past military conflicts with both countries, he underscored that they present fundamentally different strategic equations.

Naravane emphasised that India's focus on Pakistan has been substantially driven by the ongoing terrorism threat emanating from the country. However, he characterised China as representing a broader, multi-dimensional competitive challenge that will define India's security posture over the coming decades.

Stopping short of labelling China an "enemy," the former military leader stressed the necessity of maintaining robust military deterrence while simultaneously pursuing diplomatic channels to resolve longstanding bilateral differences with Beijing. This calibrated approach reflects New Delhi's complex strategic calculus in managing relations with its two largest neighbours amid evolving regional security dynamics.