28 September 2022, NIICE Commentary 8291
Manish Kumar Singh
In recent times China has become the second largest economy in the world and is expanding its roots in South East Asia and the Indo-Pacific Region. Although having a dominant geo-strategic location, India has been reluctant with regard to maritime power and maritime diplomacy. But now if India does not take charge in creating boundaries extending from the Red Sea in the West, South China Sea in the East, this space will be soon encroached upon by China through its aggressive ‘string of pearls strategy’ which is backed by infrastructure development and maritime silk route.
Importance of the Indo-Pacific
China has been actively supporting the neighbouring countries of India like Nepal, Bangladesh, Sri Lanka and Africa in building massive infrastructure projects, by lending money in most cases. These economic engagements help China in order to expand its influence in those regions which have traditionally been considered ‘India’s strategic backyard’. Past few decades China has strategized not only to play on land but also, through waters in the Indo-Pacific by developing strategic points in the region. The influential tools used by China vary depending upon the relationship and extent of its engagement in a country. In some countries, these influences work in the form of ‘incentives’, or ‘threats’ used to either restrict or urge the actors in the focus countries.
Although India due to its historical, social and political connections has more influence on these countries than China, in the recent past this balance is shifting towards China due to its being a development partner for these countries and also being a balancing factor as against India. Due to weaker economies of our neighbouring countries such as Pakistan and Sri Lanka, they get assistance in terms of financial and other aid from China. Controlling of railway line projects, energy projects and other development projects in Africa can be seen as a strategy to ensure its presence in the Arabian Sea through the West Coasts of Africa. Also, India’s close presence in their ‘social, political, and economic lives also leaves it open to heightened levels of criticism, including allegations of meddling’.
India and the Indo-Pacific
In the 21st Century, the Indian Ocean has been emerging as a ‘centre stage’ being the third largest ocean in the world and home to about one-third world’s population. It has been acting as a cultural and geographical bridge for the rising economy of South East Asia, the Middle East, South Asia, and North Africa. The enriching maritime history of India from the third to thirteenth Century has clearly showcased that the Indian rulers navigated and traded from the Western Coast of Africa to China in the East. The Indian Ocean acts as a major contributor to India’s economic and security growth, the country’s major trade both 90 percent by volume and 70 percent by value is done through the SLOCs of the Indian Ocean. Having 12 major ports and 200 minor ports in the Arabian Sea and Bay of Bengal makes India a natural inheritor of maritime powers of the Indian Ocean.
China’s entrance into the Indian Ocean with an intention of keeping a permanent presence in the same acts as a threat and challenge for India, as India has 7516 km of coastline and a large number of islands in the Andaman and Nicobar and Lakshadweep, providing with depth and reach to India making her important economically as well as a military ally for the regional and extra-regional powers.
China’s Presence in the Region
By establishing its offshore base at Djibouti in Africa, Hambantota in Sri Lanka, Chittagong in Bangladesh, Coco Island and Paracel Island China is trying to exercise supremacy and control in the region through its navy fleet, vessels and supplies. China has taken the first step in expanding the network of Chinese bases in the Indian Ocean. This expansion of network by China is a threat to India seen from the nexus between China and Pakistan, China and Bangladesh, China and Sri Lanka in order to encircle India via the ‘String of Pearl’ with an intention to contain India both economically and militarily. By investing in the China-Pakistan Economic Corridor, Beijing finds it an important aspect of the ‘Belt and Road Initiative (BRI)’, and also as a transit route in the Indian Ocean.
India’s Maritime Strategy
Rather than taking a neutral stand, China favouring Pakistan in disputes between India and Pakistan fulfills China’s object of curbing India’s powers in Asia. It’s high time that India realizes the maritime diplomacy to ‘Go West’ and ‘Act East’ in order to protect its economic and military interests. Maritime security is vital in order to curb the Pan Asia Islamic Terrorism of which India has already been a victim in the 26/11 Mumbai attack which proved that open sea is no safer for the country.
Maritime diplomacy can only work efficiently if India keeps up with the strategic development of maritime and coastal security capabilities through sea-based infrastructure development and the Central and State governments come together to address the various intelligence and coastal security issues. The formulation of Coastal Security Scheme in 2013, under the three-tier security force (Indian Navy, Indian Coast Guard and Coastal Marine Police) ensures and protects the coasts and water providing safe passage and navigation to all the vessels.
India’s relation with its neighbouring countries should also be revived through governmental capacity and capability development exercises whereby both nations can work together on various initiatives. India being the fifth largest economy in the world can provide the economic-relief and ration-relief packages as provided to the Sri Lankan government, delivery of essential medicine and food to Pakistan, development of maritime information centres in Bangladesh and investing in other island nations in the Indo-Pacific region to uphold rule-based world order in the region.
As per the Presidential Statement of India at Security Council in August 2021, India’s approach towards maritime security, curbing piracy, and maritime terrorism, emphasizing the non-traditional crime and the approach towards coastal security has been appreciated by all the member states. India’s supremacy in the region has been praised even by the superpowers, which has ultimately led to the change of the term from ‘Asia-Pacific’ to ‘Indo-Pacific’. Various engagements with the United States, France, Russia, Britain, Australia, and Japan in the terms of civil-military as training exercises, research and education has ultimately led to the overall development of the region.
Manish Kumar Singh is a Research Officer at the School of Integrated Coastal and Maritime Security Studies, Rashtriya Raksha University, Gujarat.
