Strait of Malacca Dilemma: Analyzing India’s Options in the Middle USA-China Taiwan Tensions

Strait of Malacca Dilemma: Analyzing India’s Options in the Middle USA-China Taiwan Tensions 9 Nov 2023

Strait of Malacca Dilemma: Analyzing India’s Options in the Middle USA-China Taiwan Tensions

Context:

  • This article is based on an Editorial “Taiwan, a Malacca blockade and India’s options” which was published in The Hindu. Nowadays, there is the oft-posed question whether India would take action in the Strait of Malacca or the Andaman Sea in the event of a conflict between the United States and China over Taiwan. 
  • It is the fact that commercial shipping as well as naval vessels of any country have a right to freedom of navigation on the high seas and a naval blockade against it is not feasible.
Relevancy for Prelims: Location of Sunda Strait, Strait of Malacca.

Relevancy for Mains: India’s constraints on naval blockade in Sunda Strait for China and Strait of Malacca

Constraints and Complexities in India’s Options Concerning the Strait of Malacca

  • Distant blockades face challenges under international law. 
  • Trade Passing through the Strait of Malacca is not crucial for China but also for Japan, South Korea. 
  • The sovereignty of other states such as Indonesia, Malaysia, Thailand and Singapore add complexity to any naval blockade. 
  • Commercial shipping is extremely complex to identify in terms of the sovereignty of the vessel, flag, registration, ownership, etc. of cargo. 
    • Also these are often multinational in nature and can also be changed as convenient through transshipment at any port in Southeast Asia. 
  • Even if the Strait of Malacca were “choked”, shipping can take a detour either through the Sunda or the Lombok Straits to reach China. 
  • China’s huge onshore and floating Strategic Petroleum Reserves (SPR) can help during disruptions, especially with growing overland energy supplies from Russia and Central Asia.

Naval Blockade in Strait of Malacca: Diplomatic Implications and Regional Challenges 

  • A naval blockade or unilateral action against an adversary navy could be seen as a declaration of war.
  • China would use its permanent seat in the United Nations Security Council and regional influence to good effect to hinder any such effort.

Naval Blockades: Historical Lessons and Contemporary Risks

  • Historical Precedents: First and Second World Wars saw naval blockades and sanctions contributing to conflicts.
    • The British blockade of Germany in WWI led to deadly retaliation with U-boats.
    • The US embargo on Japan’s energy supplies in WWII played a role in the attack on Pearl Harbor.
  • Modern Parallels: Ongoing tensions between Iran and the US in the Strait of Hormuz highlight the risks.
    • Whenever Iran has attempted to disrupt the passage of internationally flagged oil tankers, the U.S. responds by sending its naval and air assets in the region to confront the Iranian vessels.

Conclusion:

India has traditionally faced China’s military threats on its borders. The evolving U.S.-India partnership, spanning economics, technology, and the military, is expected to strengthen. The U.S. increasingly sees India as a regional stabilizer in the Indo-Pacific. A robust India, with a strong economy, nuclear deterrence capability, and a credible military, contributes to regional stability and multi-polarity.

 

Archive Calendar

Mon Tue Wed Thu Fri Sat Sun
 123
45678910
11121314151617
18192021222324
25262728293031

Need help preparing for UPSC or State PSCs?

Connect with our experts to get free counselling & start preparing

Know about Physics Wallah

Physics Wallah is an Indian online education platform, that provides accessible & comprehensive learning experiences to students of classes 6 to 12 and those preparing for JEE and NEET exams. We also provide extensive NCERT solutions, sample papers, NEET, JEE Mains, BITSAT previous year papers, which makes us a one-stop solution for all resources. Physics Wallah also caters to over 3.5 million registered students and over 78 lakh+ Youtube subscribers with 4.8 rating on its app.

We Stand Out because

We successfully provide students with intensive courses by India's qualified & experienced faculties. PW strives to make the learning experience comprehensive and accessible for students of all sections of society. We believe in empowering every single student who couldn't dream of a good career in engineering and medical field earlier.

Our Key Focus Areas

Physics Wallah’s main focus is to create accessible learning experiences for students all over India. With courses like Lakshya, Udaan, Arjuna & many others, we have been able to provide a ready solution for lakhs of aspirants. From providing Chemistry, Maths, Physics formulae to giving e-books of eminent authors, PW aims to provide reliable solutions for student prep.

What Makes Us Different

Physics Wallah strives to develop a comprehensive pedagogical structure for students, where they get a state-of-the-art learning experience with study material and resources. Apart from catering students preparing for JEE Mains and NEET, PW also provides study material for each state board like Uttar Pradesh, Bihar, and others.

Aiming for UPSC?

Download Our App

# #
Quick Revise Now !
AVAILABLE FOR DOWNLOAD SOON
UDAAN PRELIMS WALLAH
Comprehensive coverage with a concise format
Integration of PYQ within the booklet
Designed as per recent trends of Prelims questions
हिंदी में भी उपलब्ध
Quick Revise Now !
UDAAN PRELIMS WALLAH
Comprehensive coverage with a concise format
Integration of PYQ within the booklet
Designed as per recent trends of Prelims questions
हिंदी में भी उपलब्ध

<div class="new-fform">






    </div>

    Subscribe our Newsletter
    Sign up now for our exclusive newsletter and be the first to know about our latest Initiatives, Quality Content, and much more.
    *Promise! We won't spam you.
    Yes! I want to Subscribe.