Not exactly on topic here, but Indians (1)used carriers exactly how they're supposed to be used, (2)priority list of Air defense ships isn't exactly focused on power projection, and (3)for India "ability to protect sovereignty and wealth"(in a naval sense) comes hand in hand with the ability to "do the same against China". Or others, for the matter - China wasn't always the threat, nor is solidified as one for all eternity.How the two countries want aircraft carriers is a great example of this difference in mentality. The Chinese want to get aircraft carriers to protect their sovereignty and wealth. But the Indians would rather starve to get an aircraft carrier, so that they could perform power projection onto other countries. India have used its aircraft carrier to blockade Pakistan in the past. Jai Hinds now wet dream to do the same against China.
Simply due to geography, they're either capable of doing both protection and blockading (naval superiority in the whole Indian ocean) or capable of neither.
To be fair, in the Chinese case simply restoring to a normal historical state of affairs means pretty much it(superpower status).This is the difference between the mentality of China and India. China never pursue the dream of greatness through superpower status. Whereas India shamelessly does.
Which is why most countries around are nervous, like it or not.
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