-By Pradnyan P Dani
It’s an interesting time in the world when the balance of power is less clear. With a power vacuum that has been created due to several reasons, China has quickly filled up this space. This is a threat not only to the United States but also to other powerful and non-powerful states. Nations are shocked with the guile and swift tactics of China, to achieve its goal of becoming the sole world superpower. One of such tactics is its expansionist technique. China has been acquiring large amounts of territory in the South China Sea. And, it hasn’t stopped there. China has taken over massive lands and established commercial and military facilities in the Indian Ocean. These bases when connected to each other form the famous “string of pearls”. If you plot these “pearls” on the map, it’s evident to see which country it’s encompassing. Yes, it’s surrounding India. Because of its strategic and economic significance, China wants to have a superior hand in the ever-important Indian Ocean Region. Through these strings of pearls, its intent is to diminish India’s power and position as a regional power.
Let’s look at each of these pearls. China has developed the Gwadar port in Pakistan as a part of the famous China-Pakistan Economic Corridor (CPEC). China already has semi-autonomy over the Gwadar port and it can easily station its naval warships there. In Sri Lanka, they control the Hambantota port. After Sri Lanka was unable to pay off Chinese loans to build and develop the port, China swooped in and took the port on a 99-year lease. In effect, it became a Chinese naval base. In Eastern Africa, China has a military naval base in Djibouti. Djibouti gifted another port located nearby. These bases allow China to extend its sphere of influence in the western side of the Indian Ocean. China also won a tender to build the Kyaukpu port in Myanmar. This multi-million dollar price tag could put Myanmar in a debt trap similar to the one Sri Lanka fell into. Further, Chinese investments have flown into the Chittagong Port in Bangladesh and the Chabahar port in Iran. All these Chinese investments in the Indian Ocean are a real worry for New Delhi.
But India is surely not taking this lying down. India is investing both in itself and its neighbours to ensure that New Delhi remains a primary power in the Indian Ocean. The first part of the strategy is to develop its own infrastructure and capabilities, exemplified by the Car Nicobar air force base in the Union Territory of Andaman & Nicobar. It boasts of a 9000 feet runway that New Delhi plans to upgrade to support military, patrol and transport aircraft. The second part of the strategy is to boost cooperation with neighbours. India has developed strategic partnerships with island nations and has bagged the Assumption Island in Seychelles and the Agalega Island in Mauritius. India has set up listening surveillance stations and naval bases on both these islands. New Delhi is also setting up a tri-command base at the Assumption Island, where fleet and troops of the Indian Army, Navy, as well as the Air Force, will be functional and operating. India signed access agreements with the French, who have given India reciprocal access to its facilities at Reunion Island in Mauritius and in Djibouti. In early 2018, PM Narendra Modi secured Indian access to an Omani naval port in the Strait of Hormuz, securing her oil passages and also countering Chinese expansion. India’s third strategy is to invest in commercial ports both to head off Chinese control of these facilities and to allow future naval access. India has invested in the Sabang port in Indonesia, located strategically at the head of the Strait of Malacca, which has also seen Indian naval vessels making frequent visits.
The big move which ensures that the Chinese can’t go anywhere undetected is the well planned, meticulous network of information fusion centres to maintain maritime domain awareness. State of the art radar systems of the Indian Navy spread across islands in the region are the reasons why we keep hearing news of Chinese underwater drones, submarines and other vessels getting caught snooping around the Ocean.
For the International community, this is all good news, as it sees India as a reliable partner to ensure maritime security and peace. As for India, these moves play well within its policy of placing national security above everything else. India currently cannot rival China’s massive investment packages, but it does offer one thing China doesn’t - mutually beneficial agreements that are more about partnerships than predatory lending. The game is still wide open. It remains to be seen if the Indian Ring of Flowers restores the balance disturbed by the String of Pearls. The ‘base race’ is on.
Sources:
The Print
Centre for Strategic and International Studies
The International Institute for Strategic Studies
The Quint
Hindustan Times
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