EXECUTIVE SUMMARY: India regards China's efforts to enhance its naval presence in the Indian Ocean as undermining New Delhi's strategic position. As a response, India has beefed up its naval capabilities, increasing the likelihood of India joining the naval coalition of Australia, Japan, and the US.
The Indian defense establishment commonly regards China's efforts to enhance its naval presence in the Indian Ocean as an attempt to undermine its strategic position in India's "near abroad." While a minority view holds that China merely seeks to expand its commercial reach, Beijing's actions may suggest otherwise. Its construction of deep-water ports and securing of usage agreements for naval and maritime installations along the sea lanes from China to the Persian Gulf, dubbed the "String of Pearls," is widely viewed in New Delhi as tantamount to China's strategic encirclement of India.
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India Advances in Naval Arms Race With China
The Indian defense establishment commonly regards China's efforts to enhance its naval presence in the Indian Ocean as an attempt to undermine its strategic position in India's "near abroad." While a minority view holds that China merely seeks to expand its commercial reach, Beijing's actions may suggest otherwise. Its construction of deep-water ports and securing of usage agreements for naval and maritime installations along the sea lanes from China to the Persian Gulf, dubbed the "String of Pearls," is widely viewed in New Delhi as tantamount to China's strategic encirclement of India.
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India Advances in Naval Arms Race With China
