NEW DELHI: Admiral R. Hari Kumar, head of the Indian Navy, claimed that China continues to be a strong adversary and has extended its presence not just along land boundaries but also in India's marine space. In his speech to the 49th All India Management Association annual management convention on Tuesday, he made the comments.

The Navy chief noted that Beijing had maintained a constant presence in the Indian Ocean Region (IOR) since 2008 "using anti-piracy operations," adding that Beijing "remains a significant challenge and has extended its presence, not only along our land borders but also in the maritime sector."

"Five to eight Chinese Navy units, including battleships and research vessels, as well as a large number of Chinese fishing boats, are always operating in the IOR. We monitor their actions in the IOR to see how they are carrying them out." Admiral Kumar added that India's capabilities plans and development are focused on the needs to safeguard, uphold, and advance our national interests rather than on the needs of a particular country.

The Navy chief said that terrorism continues to be a serious security issue in addition to the current military difficulties and that Pakistan has continued its military modernization despite economic restrictions.

General Manoj Pande, the head of the Indian Army, said that India and China still need to resolve two sources of tension at the Line of Actual Control (LAC) in eastern Ladakh during a speech at a different event hosted by Bharat Shakti.

General Manoj Pande said that the immediate task is to disengage from these friction points before the next step of de-escalation.

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