India braces for South East Asia test as China pushes defence deals

China, through its state-owned enterprise China Electronic & Technological Corporation International (CETCI), has been assiduously making efforts to expand its footprints in the defence sector in South East Asia that could emerge as a security challenge for India in its extended neighbourhood.

CETCI is at the forefront of coordinating with companies in SE Asia for marketing and establishing production facilities including in defence and intelligence-related technology and social media management systems, ET has learnt.

CETCI has been particularly active in Thailand, which shares maritime boundary with India, and Malaysia, and over the last few months, has been working closely with their embassies in Beijing, according to persons who track China's defence ties with SE Asia. CETCI is also trying to get active in Indonesia, whose defence ties with India are being upgraded.

In both Malaysia and Indonesia, CETCI is working to supply weapon-locating radars. Besides, it is also promoting the National Comprehensive Tactical Intelligence System in Indonesia. Interestingly, besides the Philippines and Vietnam, Indonesia is in talks with India for imports of BrahMos missiles jointly developed by New Delhi and Moscow.

Last November, CETCI unveiled plans to market its Electronic Intelligence Equipment (ELINT) for Electronic Warfare with an eye on SE Asian market, ET has learnt. The company also wants to promote technology associated with drones for SE Asian market, ET has learnt. CETCI has also been focussing on marketing its National Firewall System (NFS) and National Social Media Engagement System (NSMES) in SE Asia, according to one of above mentioned persons.

The NFS is being introduced as a cyberspace governance solution for protection of a country's cyberspace sovereignty, while NSMES, based on Big Data and Artificial Intelligence, is primarily for the management of social media platforms and public opinion engagement. Both these tools are reportedly developed by Chengdu Privis Technology Co Ltd.

Despite quality issues, Chinese defence equipment has been able to increase its market share in SE Asia due to factors such as competitive pricing, maintenance and transfer of technology, policy of non-interference and refraining from putting conditions unlike the USA and the West.