Power play in the Indian Ocean

“We should keep a keen eye on this region as future of world dominance might
be decided here” (Robert D Kaplan)
Introduction:
1. India, China and the United States, the three major powers, which
together account for nearly half of the global economy, are vying for
influence in the Indian Ocean arena.
2. All of them view the region through their own geostrategic frameworks,
ensuring intense jostling at best, or conflict at worst.
Importance of Indian Ocean
1. Indian ocean is the world’s third largest ocean.
2. It is spread over three continents and covers almost 18% of world land
area.
3. Almost 80% of global trade by volume is transported by seas. Of this 80%
trade, 60% passes through Asia and here we have the highway of the
seas, that is, Indian ocean.
4. There are three choke points in Indian ocean through which 80% of
Global Oil trade passes.
5. These choke points or straits are: strait Hormoz, Straights of Malacca,
Bab el-Mandeb.
6. Important Ports: Gwadar and Chabahar
7. Its importance for fish industry is also considerable as it is responsible
for more than 28% of world fish capture.
India
1. Indian Prime Minister Narendra Modi put forward “Security and Growth
for all in the region or SAGAR as an early high-level articulation of the
Indian Vision.
2. India define the region as extending from the gulf of Aden in the West,
through Chabahar port in Southwest Iran, and over to Myanmar and
Thailand in the East.
3. Notably, India does not view Pakistan is a part of this Regional
Cooperation strategy, instead see it as an enemy.

Compiled by Dr Nadir Ali

03343196007
Nadir.cmc39@gmail.com
 4. India tries to isolate its long history of land border disputes with China
from its wider policy towards the Indian Ocean, even though countering
Beijing is one of New Delhi’s goals.
5. New Delhi initiated the Look East policy to build trade and commercial
ties to booming south east and East Asian States, which have been
crucial in stimulating India’s economic growth and its economic and
political rise more generally.
6. New Delhi has also built closer trade and economic ties with Saudi
Arabia, the UAE, Oman and Iran to secure energy resources for growing
economy, to expand trade and commercial links and to support Indian
diaspora working in these countries.
7. Indian Navy is also increasingly focused on countering its Chinese
counterparts in the region.
China:
1. Chinese view of the region is an integral part of a broader geo-economic
and strategic vision for China and the world.
2. Beijing treats the region as extending from coastal China, through south
east Asia, into the Indian ocean, and all the way to the Saudi Peninsula
and African literal.
3. The land half of the belt and road, the Silk Road economic belt or
maritime Silk Road passes through this region.
United States:
1. The US strategy toward South Asia in the Indian Ocean area is an
extension of an Asia-Pacific perspective based on over seven decades of
US leadership and forward presence in East Asia.
2. The strategy is known as Indo Pacific strategy.
3. For US the region extend from Indian Ocean in the littoral countries of
Indian oceans in southeast and East Asia.
4. The United States largerly excludes Pakistan, the Arabian Peninsula, Iran
and the African literal from its conception of Indo Pacific region.
5. Despite policymaker’s intentions, the indo-pacific strategy is largely
evolved into a military dominant strategy, shaped by the military’s
longstanding role in defining the region’s geography and driven by the
need to counter China military.

Compiled by Dr Nadir Ali

03343196007
Nadir.cmc39@gmail.com
 6. This will limit America's ability to counter Chinese infrastructure
investment and economic cooperation, allowing China to make political
inroads with regional governments looking for investment and aid.

Compiled by Dr Nadir Ali

03343196007
Nadir.cmc39@gmail.com