July 3,
2008: India is building an Advanced
Amphibious Warfare School near the port city of Kakinada, on the north east
coast. The new school will be part of facility that will include a Fleet
Support Base, which will improve security for the offshore Krishna-Godavri natural
gas fields. Currently, India has about a thousand Marine Commandos, and several
major amphibious ships (including a 17,000 American LPD, the former USS
Trenton).
India is
building naval bases on its east coast, and developing its amphibious
capabilities to counter Chinese moves into the Indian Ocean. Although China
denies any such intentions, China is dependent on oil, moved via the Indian
Ocean from the Persian Gulf, as well as growing trade with Africa. China
apparently does not want so much of its economy dependent on the good will of
the Indian Navy.
