Sino-Indian Strategic Competition in the Indian Ocean Region and Future of China’s Maritime Interests

Indian Ocean is the third largest body of water on earth and has gained increased strategic importance in recent times due to its geographical proximity with some of the most important SLOCs and Straits. The instigator behind the tussle between China and India in the IOR is a race for economic gains. Stakeholders on both sides think that these economic gains can be instrumental for growth and progress. Extra-regional powers are also active here which has exacerbated conventional, non-conventional and nuclear threats in the IOR. India has emerged as a bogeyman of Western powers who intend to choke China's supply of fuel and raw materials passing through the Indian Ocean Region. Around eighty percent of India's trade is seaborne while eighty four percent of China's trade passes through the Straits of Malacca. Both these states are vying to control the maritime passageways. This has resulted in a strategic competition with nuclear dimension adding to the qualms. The operationalization of nuclear submarines in IOR has a long-term strategic impact which is bound to alter the security dynamics of this region forever. An assessment of the capabilities of both China and India indicate that Beijing might emerge as a dominant naval power in IOR.