CHINA PRESENCE IN INDIAN OCEAN AND IMPACT TOWARDS INDIA MARITIME SECURITY
Noraini Zulkifli1*, Mohd Ezrinorsyah Md Shah1
1Faculty of Defence Studies and Management, National Defence University of Malaysia
*Corresponding author: [email protected]
Accepted: 1 December 2019 | Published: 30 December 2019
________________________________________________________________________________________
Abstract: The strategic value of Indian Ocean has invited lots of attention from a major power. For India, the Indian Ocean shows its domain and obvious superiority that it has held for some centuries. However, there seem to be an arise from China presence in the region. This action has prompted India as the leading actor in the area and created a diversified approach to mitigating the issue. How should India respond to this? What would be the impact of this phenomenon on India maritime strategy? Is China presence should be defined as a threat for India to continue its ambition as a prospect dominant global key player, or it produces opportunity that India should grab in order to remain relevant in Indian Ocean perspective. This article will study about the China presence in Indian Ocean and impact toward India maritime security. The objectives of this study namely 1) to identify China economy interest in Indian Ocean, 2) to discuss China strategic interest in Indian Ocean and 3) to analyse security impact towards India maritime security. This qualitative approach has using secondary data from 2010- 2018. The finding of this study are 1) A naval tension not only to both countries but include all the neighbouring countries in the region, 2) India sees that China tried to encircle it nation by establishing one belt one road initiative; 3) India has enhanced the excellent relationship with the United States and the neighbouring countries in the Indian Ocean.
Keywords: Indian Ocean, India, China, One Belt One Road Initiatives, Maritime Security _________________________________________________________________________
1. Introduction
With a population passing 1 billion, India and China both need many resources to fulfil their needs. Both countries are dependent on energy resource transported by the sea. People Republic of China (PRC) has arisen as one of the significant power in the world today.
Located in East Asia and have a population of more than 1 billion. The economy in China is flourishing where they manage to become the world biggest GDP (purchasing power parity) with $23.12 trillion in 2017. PRC national interest is secured and guarded by the largest army which has both nuclear and space program. China has a seat as one of the permanent members in the UN Security Council since 1971 (Calahan:2005). This Communist ideology state which the central capital is Beijing. Beijing is governed by the Chinese Communist Party (CCP) since post World War 2. PRC covers approximately 9.6 million square kilometres which border with total 14 countries including India. As stated in the CIA World Fact book (2017), the Pacific Oceans has a coastline stretching up to 14,500 km surrounded by the South China Sea, Yellow East Sea and Korean Bay in the North East. Blessed with numbers of qualities of extraordinary influence, India in another hand, emerging from its number of population and geographical area. Located in the northwest and upper East Indian Ocean, it is isolated by the ocean, and this gives it the ability to for India to monitor and
command in the Indian Ocean area. With the coastline near 5,700 km, its provide India to the principle of exchanging path between Europe, East Asia and the Middle East. Indian military consist of 1.1 million working force, made India as the second biggest armed forces in the world. It is also being recognised as the ninth biggest military consumption in the world at US$36.3 billion and operating 50 to 60 atomic weapon. India Air power is being visualised with around 850 aircraft which made it is like the fourth biggest aviation based armed forces.
India also was known as one of the countries which operate massive naval forces. In any case, India's military capability is unrivalled by any South Asia nation but keep remain humble and maintain an excellent relationship with the South Asian.1
The strategic value of Indian Ocean has invited lots of attention from a major power. For India, the Indian Ocean shows its domain and obvious superiority that it has held for some centuries. However, there seem to be an arise from China presence in the region. This action has prompted India as the leading actor in the area and created a diversified approach to mitigating the issue. How should India respond to this? What would be the impact of this phenomenon on India maritime strategy? Is China presence should be defined as a threat for India to continue its ambition as a prospect dominant global key player, or it produces opportunity that India should grab in order to remain relevant in Indian Ocean perspective.
China interest in the Indian Ocean has been highlighted for a few reasons. It has clearly shown there are strategic reasons behind their presence in the region. It has created an impact towards India, a historical power that has the Indian Ocean as it backyards for a long time.
China action can look as trying to interfere in the region that could endanger the stability that India has preserve. The tension that occurs and the action taken by India which is increased the cooperation with other nation in order to counterbalancing China influences.
1.1 China Presence in Indian Ocean
China has increasingly shown its interests for strategic reasons in the Indian Ocean.2 China’s increasing interests are not well received by India, a power that is considered an essential actor for hegemonic stability in the South Asian region (Guorui:2017). India may perceive China’s Indian Ocean interests not only as an attempt to interfere at its backyard but more importantly as threats to South Asian regional stability.3 Nonetheless, it can also be argued that Indian threat perception on China is beyond the Indian Ocean development.4 There are several reasons of China’s interest towards Indian Ocean.
1.2 China Economic Interest
China arisen in economic development has put her on top of the list surpassing Japan as Asia economic leader since 2010.5 China decision to open its market to the end of 1970 has shown an enormous impact on their economic development. The economy continues to boom after China decided to join the World Trade Organisation (WTO) in 2001. Many of western nation
1 Poddar, T and Yi, E. (2007). India's Rising Growth Potential. BRICs and Beyond, ed. Goldman Sachs Global Economics Group. New York, NY: Goldman Sachs p 11.
2 Beckhusen, R. (2018). China’s Power is Growing in the Indian Ocean. The National interest. Retrieved at http://nationalinterest.org on 1st July 2018.
3 Hielscher, L. (2017). India’s Perception and Misperception of China-led Developmentalist Paradigms:
Making Sense of India’s Attitude Towards China’s Belt and Road Initiative. MA Asia Studies 120 EC. p 20.
4 Ibid. p 21.
5 BBC news. (2011). China overtakes Japan as world’s second biggest economy. Retrieve at http://www.bbc.com/news/business-12427321 on 1st May 2018.
has to invest and opened their factory in China.6 Even though China has their oil and natural gas production, they still need to import to cater to the needs of their 1 billion population.
According to the report from the U.S Department of Defence, shows that approximately 80%
of imported oil been transiting to China in 2017.7 List of China top Crude oil suppliers as per Table 1.
Table 1. China Top Suppliers 2016
Source: Annual report to Congress. (2017).
The China economic reform starting in 1978 has change China from the impoverished nation to the second largest economy in the world.8 It took 30 years for China to reform from zero to hero. China economic reform has been carried out in two phases. The first phases began in the late 1970s to early 1980s by opening up its market to the foreign investment.9 The second phases started in the late 1980s and 1990s which involved with more on the privatisation of the state-owned industries. This policy has grown the private sector remarkably. China not only has achieved the economic success but has changed the nation from the isolated nation into the world economic giant.10 This successful economic policy and the manner of their implementation has changed the Chinese society. The numbers of poverty have reduced, and the income equality has increased.11
Most considerable importation had to be made in order to fulfil domestic needs. China energy resources are imported from many states in Africa, the Middle East and South East Asia (Lai:2007). The amassed of the domestic demand has made China depend on their imported resources. Thus, the safety and security of its shipping while transiting in the Indian Ocean
6 Morrison, M.W. (2018). China’s Economic Rise: History, Trends, Challenges, and Implications for the United States. Congressional Research Service. Retrieved at www.crs.gov on 1st June 2018. p 11-15.
7 Annual report to Congress. (2017). Military and Security Developments involving the People Republic of China 2017. Office of the Secretary of Defense. p 42,43.
8 Dahlman et all. (2008). China and the knowledge Economy: Seizing the 21st Century. WBI development Studies. World Bank Publications.
9 Morrison, M.W. (2018). Op Cit. p 7.
10 Kamrany, M.N & Jiang, F. (2015). China’s Rise to Global Economic Superpower. Retrieved at https://www.huffingtonpost.com/nake-m-kamrany/chinas-rise-to-global-eco_b_6544924. html on 3rd July 2018.
11 Kamrany, M.N & Jiang, F. (2015). Op Cit.
will be the primary concentration of China (Kaplan:2011). Any disruption on the route will compromise its energy security flow and at the same time affect China economic security (Noraini et al.:2015). High domestic demand on the energy resources has cause China to change its strategy and foreign policies (Noraini et al.:2015). With the population of more than 1 billion, China government has to come out with strategies to ensure the food and energy resources are adequate to support the population.12 This also necessary for China to reduce the possibilities of its population against the government if their needs are not catered.
Ensuring rapid economic development are the best strategy to avoid the possibilities. The downfall of China economic will cause catastrophic not only to the nation but to the most country in the world especially the developing nation will be affected (Noraini et al.:2015).
China drastically economic arise something that no need to be fear. This is because of the main reason for China to develop their economy is to supply for their population needs.13 There is several company from all over the world is currently investing their money in China.
Among the lowest labour cost in the world has made China the leading destination for the foreign investors to develop their manufacturing and processes factory.14 Definite, this foreign investor is relying on the China economic stability. However, China economic stability depends entirely on the imported energy resource flows from outside of China. This is not the best option for China. This is because the imported resource price is unstable and to many competitions. Therefore, China foreign policy has changed to embrace with the international systemic environment which the primary strategy is to protect the energy resources flow, as any blockage or closure could lead to energy crisis within the country.15 In 2013, China published a defence white paper which emphasises on their maritime development (Priyadarshana:2015). The white paper stated that the needs to protect the maritime right and interest as well as to protect its oversea maritime interest. Under President Hu Jintao, there was a discussion to uplift China maritime power in order to protect their maritime right and interest. After that, China continues to conduct modernisation of its fleet.
China energy source route as shown in Map 1.
12 Ghose,B. (2014). Food security and food self‐sufficiency in China: from past to 2050. Published by John Wiley & Sons Ltd. and the Association of Applied Biologists. p 87.
13 Ibid. 94.
14 Navarro, P. (2006). The Economics of the “China Price”. China Perspectives, 68. p 3.
15 Shaiful, B. (2012). India-China Rivalry in Indian Ocean? Universiti Kebangsaan Malaysia. p 14.
Map 1. China Energy Source Route.
The map above shows China energy resources route from the all over the world. More than half of the China export need to go through via the Indian Ocean to get to the mainland. This has shown that the maritime route is the primary transportation for China.
1.3 The Security of the Sloc
China dependence on this route to transfer its energy resource is undeniable. The lack of government stability in Somalia has caused the emergence of piracy in Somalia shore (Henry:2016). This problem has attracted attention from all over the world until United Nation Security Council has adopted a resolution in Jun 200816 accusing piracy activities in the Horn of Africa. As shown on the Map 2, these are the Sea Line of Communications (SLOCs) for all the energy resource from Africa and The Middle East to China. The area that been highlighted is the central chokepoint of the route. Nearly all of China’s ONG ships will follow the route through the Bab-el-Manded Strait, the Gulf of Eden and waters area Arabian seas.
16 UNSCR 1816.
Map 2: Sea Line of Communication
A highlight in the blue circle shown on the Map 2, is the chokepoint area that critical due to there are a possibility of sea robbery and piracy issues. This was followed by the next resolution from United Nation Security Council requesting nation to fight piracy in the high seas off Somalia and granted permission to act against the piracy camps.17 China has taken action by deployed its People Liberation Army – Navy (PLA-N) naval task force to escorts and patrol in Dec 2008. The first PLA-N anti-piracy naval task force consists of two destroyers and a supply ship carrying a total crew of 800.18 Since then, China has continued to send their naval task force to the Horn of Africa for anti-piracy operation. According to analysis in the PLA Daily cited that the China Naval Task Force has provided escort for more than 5900 China and foreign ships until April 2015.19
The safety and security of their merchant’s vessel through the SLOC have been a priority for China.20 This is because it threatens the safety of the ships, crew and cargo on board. A maritime threat such as Piracy, sea robbery and terrorism could bring China to energy resource deficiency problem. Worst-case scenario, it could bring down China economy rapidly because of low energy resources. Therefore, preventive action is better to reduce the
17 UNSCR 1838, 1846, 1851.
18 Macdonald, M. (26th Dec 2008). China sends naval task force on anti-piracy mission. The New York Times.
Access at https://mobile.nytimes.com/2008/12/26/world/asia/26iht-beijing.3.18942676. html on 1st May 18.
19 Panda, A. (2017). As Somali Pirate return, Chinese Navy Boast of Anti-Piracy Operations. The Diplomat.
Access at https://thediplomat.com/2017/04/as-somali-pirates-return-chinese-navy-boasts-of-anti-piracy- operations on 1st May 2018.
20 Khurana, G. S. (2008). China's ‘String of Pearls’ in the Indian Ocean and Its Security Implications. Strategic Analysis, 32(1), 1-39.
risk that can lead to jeopardising the economic development. In order to secure their energy resources flow, China has shifted its foreign policy behaviour towards willingness to employ PLA-N forces in Military Operation Other Than War (MOOTW) far away from China mainland (Henry:2016). China action has fostering concern especially from India which traditionally operated in the Indian Ocean. Escorting its merchant vessel from China to Africa through the Indian Ocean may not be looked like a problem for China.
However, in order to sustain their operation in that area, China Naval Task Force needs to have a forward operating base in order to resupply in the middle of the route which is in the Indian Ocean area. To cater to this requirement, China has chosen Gwadar, Pakistan to be its second naval base in the Indian Ocean after Djibouti.21 It is not just China who has their military base in Djibouti, even France and the United State have their military base there. It has been selected due to its strategic location. Djibouti is closely located to the strait of Bab al-Mandab, a narrow chokepoint between the horn of Africa and the Middle East. The strait of Bab al-Mandab is a strategic channel for trade and commerce. The construction in Jiwani, 60 km from Gwadar will be started within five years from 2018.22 This base will act as a forward operating base for PLA, whereby it also will have an airstrip and accommodation for approximately 500,000 China personnel.23
By building naval and air facilities in the region, it apparently would provide China with an option to respond to any potential threat affecting its interest in the region. China presence has shown unpleasant to some nation along the route. However, it's undeniable that their presence in that area has reduced the piracy activities. Less case has been reported since then.
However, China is not the only nation that sending their assets to escort and patrol in the area. The China oversea base not only to support regular operations in the region, but it also could be a good deterrent as it would show that China could launch it force in a short time.
This would deter any intention to blockade the Strait of Malacca, a key passage to the Indian Ocean region (Henry: 2016).
21 Brewster, D. (2018). China’s New Network of Indian Ocean bases. The Interpreter. Access at https://www.lowyinstitute.org/the-interpreter/chinas-new-network-indian-ocean-bases on 1st May 2018.
22Ani (2018). China’s second overseas naval base to be in Pakistan? The New Indian Express. Retrieved at http://www.newindianexpress.com/world/2018/jan/09/chinas-second-overseas-naval-base-to-be-in-pakistan- 1748554.html on 3rd July 2018.
23 Ibid.
1.4 Strategic Interest
In the same time, China is openly conducting the modernisation of its fleet towards new offshore capabilities and operation. Observe that China behaviour of conducting the anti- access or area denial strategy within its adjacent water near Taiwan to disrupt the freedom of action of other naval powers especially the United States.24 The action that happened in Taiwan has brought China to be more cautious towards the United State in the Indian Ocean regions. China has to carry out the modernisation of its fleet in order to counterbalancing US naval power in the region.25 There is also evidence from the researchers proposal that one of China motive pursued maritime power is because of the need for the status. The impressions among elites that the major powers must be the maritime power as well. Chinese writer has noted that Holland, Portugal and Spain was a major power in the past because of their maritime capabilities.26 The modern major powers nation as United State, United Kingdom and German also depended on maritime power.27 As to achieve their aspiration to be a dominant power, China has to react and continue to develop its fleet; its navy already shifts the focus from brown -water navy28 to blue-water navy29. In order for China to create the blue-water navy and to expend it naval role, they have building submarine and warship besides working on their second aircraft carrier.30 There are no clear explanations on where the maritime power fits into China objective due to lacks of China published maritime strategy. However, speech by Xi Jiaping has offered some insight into the current thinking of China’s leadership. He emphasis on pursuit of the maritime power as to make China dream state.31
1.5 Responsible as a Global Actor
China has been criticised due to its lack participation in global security, even though China is one of the permanent members of the United Nation Security Council.32 The anti-piracy operation is the chance for China to improve its image as a responsible global actor. Thus, to be a responsible global actor, China need to increased its involvement in international theatre.
China official has announced that their participation in anti-piracy operation is not purposely only to preserves their national interest but it is also as to fulfil the international
24Tri, N.M. (2017). China's A2/AD Challenge in the South China Sea: Securing the Air From the Ground. The Diplomat. Retrieved at https://thediplomat.com/2017/05/chinas-a2ad-challenge-in-the-south-china-sea- securing-the-air-from-the-ground/ on 7th July 2018.
25 Blasko, D. J. (2015). The 2015 Chinese Defense White Paper on strategy in perspective: maritime missions require a change in the PLA mindset. China Brief, 15, 3-7.
26 McDevitt, M, et all. (2016). Becoming a Great “Maritime Power”: A Chinese Dream. CNA. Washington. p 13.
27 Kehui, P. (2012). Discussing the historical Evolution of New China’s Maritime Strategy. Social Science Review. No 10.
28 The term refers in any naval forces that capable to conduct operation in littoral environments.
29 The term refers in any naval forces that capable of operating globally.
30 Stratfor. (2009). China’s plan for a Blue Water Fleet. Access at https://worldview.stratfor.com/ article /china- s-plan-blue-water-fleet on 7th July 2018.
31 McDevitt, M, et all. (2016). Op cit. p 2.
32 China Power Team. (2016). Is China contributing to the United Nations Mission? China Power. Accessed 7th July 2018. https://chinapower.csis.org/china-un-mission/.
requirement.33 They also justified their involvement is according to United Nations resolution 1851 which encouraging members of the UN to take an active role in combating piracy in Somalia. China is in his way to becoming a global actor, his presence in economic and diplomatic is felt almost everywhere in the world. As China enjoying its economic prosperity, being a major power held by China a global responsibility.
The involvement may motivated China decision to deployed naval task force for anti-piracy operation by others nation, especially India and Pakistan34. Among the five permanent members of the United Nation Security Council, China was the last to deploy forces to join the anti-piracy operation in the Horn of Africa. Before the deployment, China relied on others nation to rescue its vessel in distressed. There is a case where the Malaysian Navy had rescue China merchant vessel in the Gulf of Eden.35 China does not want to be accused as a free rider by other nation. Thus they felt necessary to deployed their forces to participate in the operation. In addition to the need to appear as a responsible global actor, the involvement in anti-piracy operation in Somalia offered China a chance to balance the lousy image projected by its behaviour in the South China Sea. The cooperation with the US while conducting the operations in the Gulf of Aden, help China to maintain its positive relation with the US.36 China now realises the power of naval diplomacy, which can be explained by numbers of a port visit by its naval task force has increased after every deployment. The focus on specific parts of the area in the world such as Mediterranean, Europe, West Africa and the Middle East has indicated China plan to increase its influence in the area of interest. China is now able to use its navy to support its politic just like other Maritime Power nation.37
To facilitate the operation requirement, there a lot of preparation has to be made. Firstly, China has to expand its network of port and military facilities in the region. Currently, China is using its support base in Djibouti and Gwadar port, Pakistan to support its operation. This to ensured PLA-N could sustain its operation far away from China mainland. There also a future plan to increase the number of port along the route from Mainland to Africa. Secondly, PLA-N is focusing on a fleet extension to develop the expeditionary capabilities which to support the objective to conduct mission far away from the mainland.38 The fleet extension will enhance the power projection capability for China. This operation also has been a platform for China to conduct a trial on their new asset. The China involvement in anti-piracy operation in Somalia was a stepping stone for them to participate more in global security.39 China then also participate in other security mission such as the search and rescue operation
33 Matthew, G and Minot, S. (2016). Chinese Anti-Piracy and the Global Maritime Commons. The Diplomat.
Access at https://thediplomat.com/2016/02/chinas-anti-piracy-mission-and-the-global-maritime-commons/ on 7th July 2018.
34 Kaufman, A. (2009). China’s Participation in Anti-Piracy Operations off the Horn of Africa: Drivers and Implications. Access at https://www.cna.org/cna_files/pdf/D0020834.A1.pdf on 7th July 2018.
35 Lin, T.C. (2008). China Thanks Malaysia for Pirate rescue. Bernama. Access at http://maritime.bernama.com/news.php?id=379891&lang=en> on 1st May 2018.
36 Wright, T and Benner, T. (2018). China’s relations with U.S allies and partners in Europe. Brooking.edu.
Access at https://www.brookings.edu/testimonies/chinas-relations-with-u-s-allies-and-partners-in-europe/ on 7th July 2018.
37 Kaplan, R. D. (2010). The geography of Chinese power: how far can Beijing reach on land and at sea?. Foreign Affairs, 22-41.
38 Houtori, M, et al. (2017). China’s Emergence as a Global Security Actor. Strategies for Europe. Mercator Institute for China Studies. p 55, 56.
39 Kamerling, S., & Van Der Putten, F. P. (2012). An overseas naval presence without overseas bases: China’s counter-piracy operation in the Gulf of Aden. Journal of Current Chinese Affairs, 40(4), 119-146.
of Malaysian Airline flight MH 370 and the neutralisation of chemical weapon in Syria.40 The PLA-N cooperation with another navy during the mission has confirmed China willingness to participate actively in the global security.
1.6 Security Impact towards India Maritime Security
Since the Sino-India war in the 1960s, India always has suspicious of China (Shepard 2017). According to a political observer, there are so many reasons for conflict between these two nation. Contemporarily, China active presence in the region especially the growing defence link with India 10eighbor has made India increase their awareness towards China (Ganapathy 2017). As been discussed in the previous chapter, securing economic interest is one of the reasons for China active presence in the Indian Ocean. The easy access to the energy resources is essential to China in order to ensure the growing economic progress. India has a good reason to be curious with China activities in the Indian Ocean. China is geographically far from the Indian Ocean compared to India. China has continued to increase its presence in the region. China through its One Belt One Road initiative has seen by India as some ways for China to encircle India. China One Belt One Road initiative as shown on Map 2.
Map 3: China One Belt One Road Initiative
The map above shows China One Belt One Road initiative; the red line is the Silk Road Economic belt which connects China to Europe through by land. The blue line which also connects China to Europe but via the maritime route. From this maps, it showed that India is situated in the middle of the both China plan route. Does China plan for India to be in the middle or is it coincidentally? Until now there is no clear answer by China.
India foresees the rise of China as a way to increase their influences in the region (Pant 2007). Thus, India had to react in order to balance the influence of China or at least try to seek the buffer space in between. The creation of buffer space may work on the land, but
40 Hodal, K. (2014). Flight MH370: China sends ships to verify debris. The Observer. 22nd Mar 2014. Retrieved on 1st May 2018.
doubt to be applied in the maritime sphere. Both nations have valid reasons to protect the open sea lanes and ensuring the safety of the trade across the Indian Ocean region.41 As China influences continue to flourish in the region, New Delhi is confronted with the challenge of dealing with this situation. India interest in this region should be protected with all cause. Mahan once argues that: “Whoever controls the Indian Ocean will dominate Asia;
the destiny of the world will be decided on its waters.” To some extent, Mahan’s argument shows its truth when the ocean has now become the centre of attention by the world and regional key players.
1.7 Naval Tension
When China is entering the Indian Ocean region, that means competition between the two countries is starts heating up.42 The regional powers move to apply their influence in the domain via the development of port facilities and military patrols. According to the US report, China new construction in Jiwani can be seen as a part of China String of pearl strategy to continue their existence in the Indian Ocean. India then counterbalances it with the signing of an agreement with Seychelles which giving them to cultivate, manage, operate and conduct maintenance on the facilities on the island.
India has viewed the Indian Ocean as their backyard for a very long time. It was manifested since the Cold War period whereby India want all the dominant power to pull out from the region as it was creating a threat to India in the region. In another hand, China saw the needs for them to secure their energy security and trade route in the Indian Ocean neighbouring countries as the reasons for them to increase their presence in the region. China is using the Indian Ocean as the space for power projection capabilities. In order to materialise their one belt one road initiative, China has been striking a deal with the countries in Asia and Africa.
‘String of Pearl’, the doctrine which China created in 2005 has been the factor that raised the concern to India (Khurana 2008). The motive and intentions of this doctrine have been a debate all over India. This doctrine is aimed at expanding China influence into the Indian Ocean through PLA-N as they develop bases or granted access to port across the northern Indian Ocean. It appears that the main factor of China string of pearl doctrine is to become the strategic placement of the ‘pearls’ location. The location of the pearl with one another is creating a chain in the Indian Ocean, that not only be able to serve China economic but military and Intelligence core as well.43 However, India has reacted with the construction of new maritime policy which the policymakers are concerning about China aggressive policy.
India aspires to position itself as the network security provider and announce it to their potential ally in the Indian Ocean regions. Even though India has declared their Act East policy, which more towards the enhancement the relations with the Asia-Pacific region. They still put the priorities towards their closes countries through the ‘Neighbourhood First’
initiative (Thube 2015). India also gets along with the United States strategy which emphasised on the concept of free and open to all Indo-Pacific.
1.8 Cooperation with Other Nation
The presence of China in the Indian Ocean has created a competition between China and India especially over the issue of strategic domination in the region. The rivalry between both
41 Zweig, D, & Jianhai, B. (2005). China's global hunt for energy. Foreign affairs, 25-38.
42 Mohan, C. R. (2006). India and the Balance of Power. Foreign affairs, 17-32.
43 Marantidou, V. (2014, June). Revisiting China’s ‘string of pearls’ strategy: places ‘with Chinese characteristics’ and their security implications. In Pacific Forum CSIS Issues & Insights14.
nations is more evident. This occurred when some of the pro-Indian countries have expressed concern regarding the increasing of China presence in the area (Christensen 2006).
The flows of energy and trade seem a primary concern for China, but its activities have implications for those countries which in positive economic progress, which is India (Humphrey & Messner 2006). China exerts extraordinary economic and political influence over Africa with the billion dollars’ worth of investment. Nevertheless, China has secure access to energy resources and raw materials which are vital for China progress and growth.
Since the collapse of the Soviet Union, there only one superpower left in the world today which is the United States. Its appear to be the most prominent power in Asia (Spykman 2017). China and India contemporarily, are the rising power of Asia. Both shared the same criteria which are having the population over 1 billion, holding nuclear weapons, and both are among the fastest growing nation in term of economies in the world (Asif & Muneer 2007).
Thus, both nation is trying to maintain the proper relation with the United States especially in economic relation.44 However, in this case, India seems to be more active in keeping the proper relationship with the United States.
At the same time, India is trying to build further up the relationship with the other countries which is the Indian Ocean region countries. Since 2011, India via Indian Navy has geared up capacity building assistance using a government approach (Ghosh 2014). Sri Lanka and the Maldives are the priorities for India, this is because they concern about China plan to build up a port in both countries by using the diplomatic offensive which combines aid and investment.45 China, through one of their company, has managed a terminal at Port Colombo, Sri Lanka. The port had received a visit from PLA-N submarines in 2014 (Ghosh 2014).
Same cases happened in the Maldives, whereby a lot of Chinese company had invested rapidly after the opening of the China embassy in 2011 (Fernando 2010). India plans to establish maritime security cooperation with Sri Lanka and Maldives (Ghosh 2014). In 2011, India and Sri Lanka have resumed the joint naval exercise named SLINEX. India has provided coastal security for the Maldives for many years. India, Sri Lanka and the Maldives have conduct trilateral talks in 2011 and resulting Sri Lanka to joint DOSTI exercise in 2012.
DOSTI is a joint Coast Guard exercise between India and Maldives Coast Guard since 1991 (Shamin 2014). In 2009, Maldives and India have concluded a defence cooperation agreement to set up a network of radar and an air force station in the Maldives (Anand 2012).
India has moved another step ahead by inviting Seychelles and Mauritius to join the trilateral framework. Seychelles coast guard capability has been supporting by India since 2005. India has provided them with a ship, aircraft and a coastal surveillance system radar (Nkala 2015).
India also has provided Mauritius with aircraft, light helicopter and a coastal radar system in 2009.
Indian Prime Minister, Narendra Modi visited Seychelles, Mauritius and Sri Lanka in March 2015 (MOFA 2015). This is to send a message to strengthen the maritime security cooperation between India and all countries. He then delivered a speech in Mauritius after commissioned Barracuda; an Indian made offshore patrol vessel. In his speech, he is sending the message that Mauritius and India as a partner in taking the responsibility to ensure the safety in the Indian Ocean. India aims to establish the spirit of partnership between the nation so it would be a different approach compare to China.
44 Bush, G. W. (2002). The national security strategy of the United States of America. Executive Office of the President Washington Dc.
45 Ibid.
2. Conclusion
China has taken a necessary action as to protect its economic interest and to stress it as the future superpower. China has continued to transform its fleet so that it could project its power to the far area. The modernisation of the PLA-N fleet towards the blue-water navy will safeguard the safety and security of China merchant in the Indian Ocean. Thus, the deployment of the PLA-N in anti-piracy operation in the Gulf of Aden could contribute to the accomplishment of different objective related to this context. The deployment of PLA-N continuously since 2008, firstly aimed to give protection on China shipping interest against piracy. In the same time, it also contributes to the development of China blue-water navy. To protect China economic interest, securing SLOC and improving China image were the part of the objective. Furthermore, pursued by PLA -N in their operation in Indian Ocean along with protection China interest in East Africa, North Africa and Middle East This objective clearly explain why China continues to deploy PLA-N in the Indian Ocean even though the threat of piracy is declining since 2012. The continuous deployment could be compared to the presence of US fleet or the persistent presence of the United Kingdom and French navy in the region since last three decades. India is a power that has played an important role in Indian Ocean stability for past decades. The presence of China in the region has undoubtedly given impacts towards India.
India has a good reason to be curious with China activities in the Indian Ocean. China is geographically far from the Indian Ocean compared to India. Furthermore, China has continued to increase its presence in the region. This has created the insecure as India sees that China tried to encircle it nation by establishing one belt one road initiative. As the time goes by, both nation has continued to maximise their military capabilities. India has to react in order to ensure its military is capable of deterring any unwanted conflict in the region.
Thus created naval tension among both nations. Both nation now involved with arms races which have attracted international concern due to both are known as the nuclear power nations. While India has maintained a good relationship with the United States, the US is the sole superpower in the world. They also continued to strengthen relationships with the neighbouring countries in the Indian Ocean. China already establishing their network through investment, India on the others hand is engaging through a different approach. India approach is more to encourage the neighbouring countries such as Maldives, Sri Lanka, Mauritius and Seychelles to ensure the safety of Indian Ocean regions. This act would highlight India as a regional leader in the regions.
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