INDIAN PERSPECTIVES ON INDIAN PERSPECTIVES ON REGIONAL SPACE REGIONAL SPACE

SECURITYSECURITY

Maj Gen Dipankar Banerjee Maj Gen Dipankar Banerjee (Retd)(Retd)

Director & HeadDirector & HeadInstitute of Peace & Conflict StudiesInstitute of Peace & Conflict Studies

New Delhi, IndiaNew Delhi, India

BACKDROPBACKDROP

Two excellent presentations on IndiaTwo excellent presentations on India

ISRO Lochan – ISRO Lochan – Space policy Meeting the Space policy Meeting the challenges of the socio-economic concerns of challenges of the socio-economic concerns of the nation – civilian use perspective and the nation – civilian use perspective and focusfocus. .

Nair – Nair – A common security perspectiveA common security perspective & & military dynamicsmilitary dynamics

My TalkMy Talk – – Regional Security with space Regional Security with space connotationsconnotations

MILITARIZATIONMILITARIZATION OF OF SPACESPACEThe inevitability of militarizationThe inevitability of militarizationThe rapid scaling up of military The rapid scaling up of military

dependencedependenceBurgeoning civilian applicationsBurgeoning civilian applicationsThe challenge to prevent weaponizationThe challenge to prevent weaponization

- Is weaponization inevitable? Is weaponization inevitable? - May lead to May lead to

- Dominance by someDominance by some- An arms race An arms race - Asymmetric response by othersAsymmetric response by others

CHANGINGCHANGING CONTOURS OF CONTOURS OF INTERNATIONAL SECURITYINTERNATIONAL SECURITY

The changing nature of threatsThe changing nature of threats

The threat from global warmingThe threat from global warming

US Pre-eminence as the sole US Pre-eminence as the sole superpowersuperpower

The rise of ChinaThe rise of China

The emergence of non-state The emergence of non-state actorsactors

CHARACTERISTICS OF ASIACHARACTERISTICS OF ASIA

60 percent of world population and 60 percent of world population and growinggrowing

High economic potential and growthHigh economic potential and growth

Favorable demographicsFavorable demographics

Lacks a continent wide security Lacks a continent wide security architecture or forumarchitecture or forum

Growing regional organizations some Growing regional organizations some with security connotationswith security connotations

REGIONAL SECURITYREGIONAL SECURITY

More stable than ever in history. Yet,More stable than ever in history. Yet,

- Japan-China relations cause for Japan-China relations cause for concernconcern

- China-India borders unresolvedChina-India borders unresolved- West Asia and resurgence of militant West Asia and resurgence of militant

IslamIslam- Consequence of failures in Iraq and Consequence of failures in Iraq and

AfghanistanAfghanistan- And China’s ASAT TestAnd China’s ASAT Test

- Is there a space race in Asia?Is there a space race in Asia?

Future historians may well see Future historians may well see Beijing's use of a missile to Beijing's use of a missile to destroy an old weather satellite destroy an old weather satellite as having more lasting global as having more lasting global impact than the Iraq war.impact than the Iraq war.

IHT, January IHT, January 21, 200721, 2007

AND CHINA’S ASAT TESTAND CHINA’S ASAT TEST

QUESTIONSQUESTIONS

Why now?Why now?

What objective or motive?What objective or motive?

Lead to a new space command?Lead to a new space command?

Who was responsible for decision Who was responsible for decision & is that important?& is that important?

Why delay in announcement?Why delay in announcement?

What next?What next?

IMPLICATIONS AND IMPLICATIONS AND RESPONSERESPONSE

GloballyGlobally

RegionallyRegionally

On PAROS and CDOn PAROS and CD

Would implications be opposite of Would implications be opposite of what China intended?what China intended?

INDIAN POSITIONINDIAN POSITION““India has created a growing infrastructure, …. for the India has created a growing infrastructure, …. for the

utilisation of space technology and assets in space for utilisation of space technology and assets in space for … diverse sectors……... India is, therefore, committed … diverse sectors……... India is, therefore, committed to the peaceful pursuit of space technology and to to the peaceful pursuit of space technology and to preserve outer space……. exclusively for peaceful uses. preserve outer space……. exclusively for peaceful uses. We share the concerns about the dangers of We share the concerns about the dangers of deployment of weapons in the outer space and believe deployment of weapons in the outer space and believe that this will not be in our collective interest. that this will not be in our collective interest.

Statement by Shri Jayant Prasad, PRI to CD, Statement by Shri Jayant Prasad, PRI to CD, GenevaGeneva

Feb 02, 2006Feb 02, 2006

After the Test

Joint Statement PM Manmohan Singh and President Putin Joint Statement PM Manmohan Singh and President Putin calling for a “weapons free outer space” .calling for a “weapons free outer space” . 16 Jan 200716 Jan 2007

THANK YOUTHANK YOU