India’s Maritime Security

The Indian Ocean has always been, and will remain, on the strategic radar of great powers. Given its strategic location with abundant oil, mineral resources and fisheries, and being a hub of vast seaborne global trade and oil routes, it has turned out to be an arena of geopolitical rivalry among world powers and regional states. In today’s age of increasing global economic integration, security in the Indian Ocean region (IOR) has become more problematic and complex given the persistent threats to the smooth flow of trade and commerce which demands freedom of navigation and security of sea lanes.

  • Insofar as India is concerned, as a “resurgent maritime nation,” it has myriad interests in the Indian Ocean, ranging from energy security, economic growth, safety of the sea lanes to its maritime ambition to play a leading role in shaping the security architecture in the IOR.

The Chinese Angle in IOR

China is interested in gaining a firm hold in the Indian Ocean for expansion of commerce and put India in a situation so that it may not be able to challenge Chinese activities. This plan was unveiled by China in “Peking Review” in September 1984 by a Chinese Vice-Premier. The plan included connecting the outlying provinces with Myanmar’s and Pakistan’s ports.

In accordance with this plan:

  • China has systematically established ports in Pakistan, Sri Lanka, Myanmar, Bangladesh and Djibouti.
  • Chinese creeping occupation of features in South China Sea is continuing and is sending its patrol boats to areas claimed by it as also in East China Sea where it is claiming Senkaku Islands of Japan.
  • The Chinese have re-organised the Coast Guards for this purpose and are focussing to enhance their naval force.
  • Both Chinese research vessels and fishing boats have been seen in Indian Ocean, including in the Indian Exclusive Economic Zone (EEZ). For example, the Chinese ‘research’ vessel Shiyan 1, was seen near the Andaman and Nicobar Islands in September 2019 and China sent its Yuan Wang class research vessel in to the Indian Ocean in August 2020.

The dominance of South China Sea is a part of Chinese grand strategy to reach to the Indian Ocean. While use of Indian Ocean for commercial purposes is their legitimate desire, it needs to be ascertained that their activities do not create security problems for India.

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