Context: 

This editorial is based on the news “China’s bid to expand maritime Infrastructure” which was published in The Pioneer. China’s expansive push into larger maritime expansion domains has emerged as a significant global concern. 

China’s Ambitions for Maritime Expansion, Dominance and Power Shift

• Superpower Status: Beijing believes maritime dominance is key to achieving global leadership they feel is their right.
• Resource Access: China’s economy is hungry for energy and raw materials. Control over sea lanes secures their supply chain.
• Challenging the Status Quo: China resents the existing US-led maritime order. They want to change the rules in their favour.

Mechanism of China Maritime Expansion through BRI &  Infrastructure Hegemony in the Indian Ocean Region:

• Belt and Road Initiative (BRI): Aimed at enhancing China’s maritime reach and linkages in all directions.Littoral States into Client States: Lately, smaller states in South Asia, like the Maldives, are becoming clients of larger powers, particularly China. 
• Maritime infrastructure: In the Indian Ocean Region (IOR), China is doing extra-territorial heavy investments into maritime infrastructure. 
• Gain control of Critical Marine Infrastructure: via a variety of initiatives like port expansion, drone submarines, air-to-air refueling, specialized missile systems, carrier-based stealth aircraft, and underwater drones. 

Consequences of China’s Debt diplomacy:

• Small States as Pawns: Smaller nations may get short-term benefits from Chinese investment but risk losing autonomy and strategic room to manoeuvre.
• Internal Instability: Debt and Chinese influence can stir up domestic political resentment, destabilising these countries.

• Threat to India:

• • Limited Reach: Chinese presence in the IOR hems in India’s navy, forcing us to focus on defence rather than power projection.
  • Vulnerable Island Territories: Andaman and Nicobar Islands are closer to potential Chinese bases than the Indian mainland.

• Upending the Global Order

• • Rule of Law at Risk:If China uses might to control vital sea lanes, it undermines international norms based on freedom of navigation.
  • Great Power Conflict: Rising tensions could lead to incidents at sea, escalation, and wider conflict with ripple effects worldwide.

China’s Maritime Expansion: Global Cooperation, Alternatives, and India’s Role in Securing the Indian Ocean Region

• Economic Alternatives: The global players must urgently devise a comprehensive plan and must come to the interest of the small littoral States. 
  • The focus should be on countering China’s strategic procurement and control over the maritime expanse and infra in these contested regions.
• Alternative Supply Chain : The alternatives to the BRI, such as Japan’s “Asia-Africa Growth Corridor “ and “India’s Security and Growth for All” must be pursued as alternatives. 
• Strategic Partnerships: such as QUAD, Upgrade Act East Policy, Engage with powers who have interests in the IOR such as France, Germany etc.

• India’s Role: 

• • Net Security Provider in the region: Active Surveillance, Patrolling in the Indian Ocean Region along with building capacity of the smaller states with training, equipment and intelligence sharing.
  • Diplomacy: India should actively use diplomacy to create a consensus that rules based maritime order is beneficial to everyone including China. 
  • Modernisation of its Navy: Credible deterrence is essential. India should focus on under sea capabilities, surveillance and ability to operate from far.