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Here's how the other emerging Asian power can make money for investors
China's desire to dominate the seas of Asia is being challenged by an emerging regional rival – India.
With this shift in the balance of power in Asia, those who know how to invest in India's military and economic rise stand to profit handsomely from a real "ground floor" opportunity.
Evidence of this change can be seen in India's naval aspirations, as it prepares to field two domestically produced aircraft carriers in a relatively short time span.
With the launch of the first carrier Monday, India has joined an exclusive club of recognized nuclear powers with "blue-water" navies – the ability to project power around the world. India is, without question, an emerging Asian power with a defense sector larger than even China's.
These developments will change the destiny of Asia, and the U.S.'s influence in the region. It's no wonder more and more people want to know how to invest in India.
India's Rising Domestic Defense Capability
For many years after gaining its independence from Great Britain in 1947, India was a close client state of the old Soviet Union. This influence is still apparent today in the sheer number of Sukhoi, MiG, and Illyushin aircraft operated by the Indian Air Force and Naval Air Arm.
India still deploys plenty of Russian/Soviet equipment, but more recently has developed some lethal designs of its own.
The lead ship in the Indian Navy's new Vikrant class, INS Vikrant, was launched Monday morning to resounding cheers and chants from Hindu scripture at the Cochin Shipyard in Kerala state.
When the 40,000-ton Vikrant gets underway, she will be followed by INS Vishal, which will be even larger at 65,000 tons. Both ships will have a complement of around 1,400 officers and sailors, and the capacity to carry at least 30 aircraft each.
The Indian Air Force and Navy both deploy Hindustan Aeronautics Limited's Tejas multi-role fighter, and HAL is developing India's first stealth fighter, the Advanced Medium Combat Aircraft – which has yet to be given an appropriately macho designation.
Just as strategically important as the aircraft carriers to blue-water capabilities will be India's Arihant-class (the name means "Vanquisher of Enemies") ballistic missile submarines. The lead vessel of five planned subs, INS Arihant will be ready for sea trials later this year, and her reactor just came online this month.
It's obvious that in India, we're seeing a domestic defense industry coming of age, able to compete with Western technology and military capabilities.
But, as with all things in Asia, there is the question of China…
Do your stock recommendations take into account the possibility of future dollar collapse? Thank you.
Hi there,
Thanks for writing in. This particular scenario calls for the dollar to carry on as normal, which, in my opinion, is more likely than total collapse (which I wouldn't rule out entirely). Given the fact that we're not seeing what we should be seeing in the economy, I think it's just as wise to plan for the dollar not to collapse as it is to prepare for its collapse. This is a get-in-on-the-ground floor play on an emerging global power, and somewhat of a global trade/growth play. You're also buying into weakness on the Indian side, as the rupee continues its slide unabated. For that matter, I'd expect to find more than a few bargain plays emerging in India.