New Delhi, Aug 20 - India was closely watching China's 'moves' to increase its military prowess in the Indian Ocean and would take 'adequate measures' if its internal security is threatened, Minister of State for Defence M.M. Pallam Raju said here Thursday.

He agreed that being a 'bigger power' China will take measures to safeguard interests but added that it should not be 'intrusive'.

'I think China being a bigger power will make its moves and if we sense a threat to our internal security we will take some counter measures,' said Raju.

'We need to give them (China) a benefit of doubt that they are also in their quest to safeguard their sea lanes of communication because their energy resources are passing through the Indian Ocean region.

'They (China) are taking some steps. We have to make sure that it is not intrusive and they will not come into our space. Towards that end we are conscious of what China is doing and we are making adequate measures to make sure that our neighbourhood is not threatened,' added Raju.

Speaking about the Chinese demonstration of its space-based capability by shooting down a satellite early last year, Raju said that India was against militarisation of space.

'If space assets have to be utilised in future, India is also taking adequate steps,' said Raju.