Nick-named as carrier killer, the Chinese DF-21 D ballistic missile is designed to keep US aircraft carriers beyond the first island chain, thus giving PLA a free run of the South China Sea. France is still nursing a grievance over Australia nullifying a USD 59 billion air-independent propulsion (AIP) submarine deal and opting out for nuclear powered conventional weapon attack or SSNs submarines with US and UK under the September 15, 2021, AUKUS pact.

While Paris may have legitimate reasons for being upset with Australia for reading on the submarine deal, the emerging picture in Indo-Pacific clearly shows that AIP submarines would have been a half-measure in containing a belligerent China under all-powerful President Xi Jinping. Given the strategic environment in Indo-Pacific and South China Sea, in particular, the Australian choice for an SSN is definitely a better option in tackling a rapidly growing PLA Navy and Chinese intermediate-range ballistic missile arsenal.

The state of strategic play is such that India also has no choice but to go for long-range nuclear-powered submarines and delivery platforms as it is only a matter of time when the Chinese carrier force will be patrolling the Indian Ocean. With two nuclear submarines already operational and the third one a work in progress, India also is building leverage in case PLA decides strong-arm tactics on the 3,488-km Line of Actual Control (LAC) as it did in May 2020.