Australia, India security alliance mooted to counter China

There are reports Australia has formed a new security alliance with India in response to concerns about China. Fairfax has reported Australia and India are deepening military ties, with recently elected Indian president Narendra Modi spearheading the bi-lateral relationship.

The Age newspaper reports both retired and serving Indian officials say the government will

adopt a new strategy towards China by 'strategically and forcefully pushing back'.

This comes after a three-week Chinese army incursion on Indian controlled Kashmir last year.

Chairman of the national security advisory board under India's National Security Council, Shyam Saran, told the Age newspaper the region needs to counteract the power of China.

'Everyone is convinced that we need a very strong countervailing coalition in the region to balance China - not 'contain' China - and Australia must play a very important role,' he said.

Fairfax has also reported momentum has built towards full bi-lateral naval exercises, intelligence sharing and a safeguards agreement for uranium exports.