Amity Centre for Defence and Strategic Analysis (ACDSA) and Centre for Air Power Studies (CAPS) jointly organized a Virtual Seminar on the theme “China’s Nuclear Modernization and Strategy.” The significant ‘Scholar Centric’ virtual Seminar was conducted to re-establish the strategic urgency for India to graduate from traditional Nuclear Doctrine to more dynamic and comprehensive nuclear doctrine which can effectively address the China’s ambitious nuclear modernization programme, thereby creating a resultant nuclear imbalance in Asia.
The Seminar was planned with meticulous detail as a ‘Scholar Awareness’ educative programme by Amity Centre for Defence and Strategic Analysis (ACDSA) under its Director General, Lt Gen (Dr) SK Gadeock, AVSM (Retd). These Seminars are organized to veritably leverage the ‘Awareness & Cerebral Quotient’ of Amitians on strategic issues towards better ‘Assimilation & Rational Understanding’ of defence and national security conundrums, with its systemic ramifications in perspective. Amity Centre for Defence and Strategic Analysis (ACDSA) endeavors to shape the contours of such Online Seminars in harmonious unison with the independent ideological thought process of the Panelists towards creating ‘Strategic and Critical Thinking’ amongst the students at Amity Universities in India and overseas, deemed as the ‘Future leaders of Tomorrow’.
Delivering the Keynote Address, Air Marshal Anil Chopra (Retd), Director General, Centre for Air Power Studies (CAPS), New Delhi, averred, “India has conducted itself as a responsible nuclear power and it’s focussing on the efficacy of the use of technical weapons which are being developed. Therefore, India must continue to pursue its missile and submarines development to become a significant power in the Indo-Pacific region and be prepared to face the sudden challenges which may emerge due to China’s nuclear strategy.”
Addressing the gathering, Ambassador Anil Trigunayat, Distinguished Fellow, Vivekanand International Foundation (VIF), asserted, “Chinese Foreign Policy can be compared to a smart phone with an overcharged battery since it is very aggressive and smart in its approach. Also, the Chinese mind is very difficult to understand, therefore its actions cannot be anticipated. Today, we are living through a nuclear war syndrome, wherein the world has become more uncertain and dangerous. Therefore, there is a dire need to have an independent approach instead of getting influenced by other nations approach and attitude towards China. We must also not get carried away by the geopolitical scenario and find out the way to combat Chinese strategies in the best possible way.”
Speaking on the occasion, Lt Gen (Dr) Subrata Saha (Retd), former member of the National Security Advisory Board & Deputy Chief of Army Staff, opined, “There is a shift in China’s Nuclear Strategy and the scale at which China is developing its nuclear strategy, India needs to strategize, replan and rethink its nuclear resources. India also needs to think about the huge potential of nuclear weapons in order to manage and deal with China’s strategic moves very tactfully.”
Welcoming the guests on this occasion, Dr W Selvamurthy, Vice President of Amity Institute of Defence & Strategic Studies(AIDSS), said, “The defence forces play a key role in a country’s social and economic development; therefore, it is the duty of every citizen to pay salutations to the army men who protect the country and make a huge contribution to the national safety and security, particularly during the “Azadi Ka Amrit Mahotsav”, which is currently being celebrated across the country. The US Department of Defence, in a revised assessment, estimates that China may have as many as 700 nuclear warheads available for delivery by 2027, and as many as 1,000 by 2030, therefore, the outcome of the Seminar will enable us to ascertain how to bring global peace and security.”
Delivering a stimulating Opening Address, Lt Gen (Dr) SK Gadeock, AVSM (Retd), Director General Amity Institute of Defence & Strategic Studies (AIDSS) who was also the moderator for the Seminar, stated, “Today, we have a fine galaxy of speakers amongst us who will deliberate upon a pertinent topic which will create awareness amongst the youth and encourage critical and strategic thinking.”
In addition, an incisive and elaborate analysis of the topic in hand was carried out by the luminaries such as Dr Manpreet Sethi, Distinguished Fellow at the Centre for Air Power Studies (CAPS), Maj Gen (Dr) SB Asthana, SM, VSM (Retd), Director, Courses USI of India, International Organisation of Education Development (IOED) Representative in UN HQ Austria & Board Member of Confederation of Education Excellence in India, Dr (Mrs) Roshan Khanijo, Assistant Research Director, USI, New Delhi, Dr Nohra Fouad, Academic Director, Centre D’etudes Diplomatiques Et Strategiques (CEDS), France and the PhD Scholars undertaking research at AIDSS - Brig Rohin Bawa, Brig KTG Krishnan and the PhD Scholar with CAPS - Mr Anubhav Shankar Goswami.
The Seminar concluded with an interactive Q&A Session and the Vote of Thanks was delivered by by Col (Dr) Rajan Bakshi, Director, Amity Centre of Strategic & Defence Analysis (ACDSA). The Seminar was very well attended by faculty, students and PhD Scholars from Amity Universities, Tri Services Institutions, various dignitaries, senior veterans from the Armed Forces and other eminent citizenry from the NCR.