NEW DELHI, May 22: The Indian navy is “closely monitoring” Chinese activity in Makran coast, navy chief Admiral Madhavendra Singh has said in an interview published by the Jane’s Defence Weekly.

According to the Press Trust of India, Admiral Singh expressed concern about the Chinese navy’s “close interaction” with “a few neighbouring countries”.

He said the development of Pakistan’s Gwadar port could seriously endanger vital Indian shipping routes in the Gulf.

The Indian navy chief also said Beijing was helping Myanmar modernize naval bases that could support Chinese submarine operations.

Talking about India’s nuclear assets, he said a sea-based arsenal was the best option for a second strike nuclear capability.

According to the weekly, the admiral neither confirmed nor denied the Indian navy’s plans to develop the sea leg of the nuclear triad, involving also the army and the air force.

But, he said: “It makes a lot of sense to keep nuclear assets at sea and the government has said it will do so.” Nuclear weapon states — France, Russia, UK and US — are increasingly placing their deterrence at sea, he added.

“It makes sense for India, that has a no-first-use policy of employing nuclear weapons, to have a deterrent that is absolutely survivable. Nuclear assets underwater are difficult to target,” Admiral Singh said.

He also confirmed that the Indian navy was “talking” to the US government about acquiring P-3C Orions, a high-tech four-engine turboprop anti-submarine and maritime surveillance aircraft.