RESTRICTED

CRITICALY ANALYSE THE EMERGING GEOPOLITICS OF THE INDIAN

OCEAN REGION

INTRODUCTION

1. Geopolitics can be define as the level of international relations, method of

studying foreign policy to understand, explain and predict international political
behavior through geographical variables. These include area studies climate,
topography, demography, natural resources, and applied science of the region being
evaluated. Geopolitics focuses on political power in relation to geographic space. In
particular, territorial waters and land territory in correlation with diplomatic history.

2. Indian Ocean is the third largest of the world’s oceanic covering

approximately 20 percent of water on earth surface and expands from southern tip of
Africa to Western coast of Australia. In the South west it joins the Atlantic Ocean
and to the East it joins Pacific Ocean and including red sea and Persian Gulf. The
Indian Ocean provides major sea routes connecting the Africa and East Asia with
Europe and the Americas. Further Indian Ocean Region plays an important role as
economic and geopolitical both perspective. Basically Indian Ocean provides

RESTRICTED
 RESTRICTED

excellent foundation to trading system and as a result of that Asian economy

gradually increases due to this strategic deployment. It also rich in energy which
several world major economies are inter connected and their long term sustainability
also determine according to that aspirations. Further, maritime chokepoints and
geopolitics outcomes will determine the region’s future.

2. Three essential elements are visible in the geopolitics and economy of the
Indian Ocean region. First, the Chinese economy depends on access to this region.
Imports of energy from the Middle East, Africa's resources and trade with Europe
must transit through the Indian Ocean to reach China. In this scenario the expedition
from the Indian Ocean to China must pass through the Straits of Malacca, which
stretches two miles. China is facing difficulties during transit trade in China through
this narrow waterway, its vulnerability to blockade or maritime interdiction. As such,
China faces a difficult geography circumstance in the region and it effect to economic
survival.

3. Secondly, India has more advantageous geography than China in maritime

trade and security. China builds its expeditionary naval forces to embark these two
ocean strategy centered on the Pacific and the Indian Ocean. While the Indian Ocean
is increasingly the area which the geopolitics of Sino-Indian relations will take shape
in the coming decades, many other countries also rely on its trade and become
increasingly to achieve their national strategy. It is the waterway that makes possible
an Asian trading system. As such, access to the Indian Ocean is essential for many,
the domination of the Indian Ocean by a single power will not be acceptable at all. In
this vital region, initiatives to secure access and influence are already underway.

CHINESE GEO POLITICAL OBJECTIVES IN INDIAN OCEAN REGION

4. China is the world’s second largest economy as well as is ranked as world

number one in Purchasing Power Party. As a country which has single party ruling
system and representing one seven of world population. Basically, Chinese economy
depends on the trade which imports oil and raw materials and export to Africa,
Middle East, South Asia, Europe and America. Since 85 percent of trade is going
through IOR they need to dominate and maintain their presence in IOR is very
essential requirement in this domain. China's unique route One Belt One Rout

RESTRICTED
 RESTRICTED

(OBOR), which focuses on the Indian Ocean trade routes between China, Africa and
Europe, aims to build infrastructure that will connect other continents more closely to
China. While "OBOR" is marketed as an economic project, key locations on the
"Maritime Silk Road" have also been used for military purposes.

5. China's latest defense strategy stresses that the People's Liberation Army
(PLA) protect the security of China's foreign interests and force the navy to focus on
the defense of off shore waters. Furthermore they are concerning building military
infrastructure in the South China Sea. China has begun construction of its first
military base in Djibouti, in the Horn of Africa.

RESTRICTED
 RESTRICTED

6. Africa, at the opposite end of the Indian Ocean Sea. China is dominating IOR
by sending naval assets on the east coast of Africa during the anti-piracy operations
under way since 2008 by using Chinese submarines docked as Pakistan and Sri
Lanka.

6. Chinese Navy has been conducted much joint operation exercise with
combination with Pakistan Navy. Purpose of exercises was powers of the two
countries to protect the port activities the Gwadar of Pakistan are a crossroads of the
OBOR maritime silk route. Chinese investments in the Indian Ocean countries have
increased, raising concerns about China's indebtedness in small Indian Ocean states,
including Sri Lanka, the Maldives and Djibouti. In recent decades, China's economy
has grown rapidly and surpassed long-standing economic power.

INDIAN GEO POLITICAL INFLUENCE TO INDIAN OCEAN REGION

7. India's has influenced as much by external geopolitical factors by the country's

initiatives in the area of economic, social, political and judicial reforms. It is
necessary to examine what extent India can influence emerging geopolitical
perspectives. Basically in modern scenario India is facing lot of challenges such as

RESTRICTED
 RESTRICTED

Constructive non-state actors such as NGOs, as well as destructive non-State actors

for an example terrorist groups, are challenging not only India but also enter south
Asian region. India has more advantageous geography than China. When it comes to
maritime trade and security China builds up its expeditionary naval forces to embark
on a two ocean strategy that focuses on the Pacific and Indian Ocean. India also
maintains maritime strategy by sending naval vessels to Indian Ocean such as Sri
Lanka and Pakistan.

8. Maritime competition between India and China has gradually increased

particularly trade and military perspectives. Since china maintain strong trade market
all around world and military domination in Indian Ocean region has effectively
influence to India. Resources are very limited much more than present phenomena to
future. In this backdrop finding of raw material for industry and expansion of trade
market in these particular countries are very much important. So India has understood
facing these challenges is not an easy task alone so they have been taking assistance
from USA is essential requirement to overcome this challenge. In the other hand USA
also took these advantages to dominate Indian Ocean region in order to achieve long
term strategically goals. USA also much more worry about raising of china in trade
and military both perspectives. Other than that this is the best opportunity them to
dominate Indian Ocean region with help of powerful India.

UNITED STATES INFLUENCE TO INDIAN OCEAN REGION

9. In the early stages USA combination with Britain have control the sea lane to
gain them to super power specially in the Indian Ocean. Specially USA covered
Diego Garcia as a nuclear base to keep oil line in the Indian Ocean. In hidden idea of
these several attempt are due to fear about communist in early 1970. After USSR has
disintegrated USA and UK have continuously functions these bases in order to take
greater advantages of Indian Ocean region.

RESTRICTED
 RESTRICTED

10. Looking at the map, one can see the most convenient methods of projecting
power into the direction of the Middle East, the Persian Gulf, South Asia, Southeast
Asia, and the South China Sea. Pentagon to react instantly to events in the “hot spots”
and to conduct military campaigns during the Gulf War of 1990-1991 and the anti-
terrorist war in Afghanistan and Iraq. For this purpose, 16 separate units were located
on Diego Garcia, including a naval support base and a strategic bomber airfield base,
the point locations for guided missile submarines and nuclear weapons storage. The
base was important both for maintaining tight control of the oil streams from the Gulf
into South Asia, Southeast Asia, and North Asia, and for curbing China’s military rise
and the presence of the Chinese submarines in the Indian Ocean.

10. In the other hand USA always trying to keep countries in under neo-
colonialism strategy in order to pressurise these counties to full fill the hidden agenda
like finding of crude oil and natural resources. Apart from that these presence of USA
directly influence to sovereignty of that particular native sates. Most of oil native
states are belong to Indian Ocean region specially OPEC countries and due to that
reason they have able to pressure on the Eastern countries. Above reasons are the

RESTRICTED
 RESTRICTED

main facture to fear mainly US and west countries and influence to dominate Indian
Ocean region in effective way.

OTHER FACTORES AFFECTED THE GEOPOLITICS OF THE INDIAN

OCEAN REGION

11. Indian Ocean has an enormous importance for the reason of vital sea routes
the west and East.

12. The world is shifting fast and new political interests are rising speedily. The
altering circumstance has concerned the direct or indirect involvement of western
countries and conflicts in the gulf region are created justification of US presence in
the region.

13. Further, Unsalable political surroundings has relations among the countries
and let US and allies to occupy in the region.

14. It is obvious reason that giving a competition for china is very difficult task to
India. Due to that reason India always looking for third party involvement such as
USA. USA also trying to create close correlation in between among the India due they
also fear about chinses rising super power as region.

EFFECT OF REGIONAL AND GLOBAL SECURITY

15. China and India want a stable Asia Pacific to sustain their economic
prosperity, but they perceive threats differently and have divergent priorities. It is
important to note that India is seeking a resolute US presence in the region to guard
against possible Chinese excesses, while China considers the United States to be
considerably complicating the their strategic objectives. Beijing and New Delhi on
routes of communication on the high seas and consequently on the current maritime
security regime. China enjoys significant advantages over India and the military
dimensions of its program, while New Delhi has only recently begin to develop
military-based space technology.

RESTRICTED
 RESTRICTED

16. Both countries are just beginning to struggle with the difficult task of the
former cyber security policies, but they have already limited illicit or illegal activities
online. In the balance between freedom and social stability, India has shown a higher
degree of stigma in the public sphere than its counterpart Chinese and Indian
approaches to both energy and the environment broadly converge. Because India and
China face a rising domestic demand for energy, they heavily rely on foreign
suppliers of energy resources. This has encouraged both governments to look for
more resourceful power sources and to secure their presence in foreign energy
markets.

17. On environmental policy, the two countries focus on primarily local and short
term concerns. India is unable to invest at the same level as China in the coastal
countries the lack of preparation to build genuine military partnerships in the coastal
region on India's dominant position in the region. Now Delhi has taken the necessary
steps to overcome these limitations to India's maritime aspirations. Due to that reason
India is consider strengthening IOR as well. India as a major Top of regional player
in the Indian Ocean region is playing a more active role in all member countries.

18. In the other hand presence or deployment in different places is another

committable challenge to all the regional countries. For an example Chinese
deployment in , Nicobar Islands and buying Hambanthota port for rent basis are major
security threats that they have created up to now. In this phenomena India also
improve the relationship with island countries, for an example plan to buy Tricomalee
Harbour against China in the crushing presence of the island country and strengthen
relations with Sri Lanka. Apart from that these both countries are strengthen bilateral
trust, although tensions remain an obstacle in diplomatic relations.

RESTRICTED
 RESTRICTED

RESTRICTED
 RESTRICTED

CONFLICTS AND POLITICAL INSTABILITY

19. Indian Ocean region now badly affected by geopolitical interested countries
and extra regional power countries such as US, European Union, Japan, China
regional states and non regional states actors by influencing regional and global
affairs. Indeed, IOR is the most political troubled and potential revolutionize place in
the world. Indo – Pakistan dispute now led three open offensive operations though
they have gain independent from 1947. As a both nuclear states, both countries
stability is very essential requirement to find solution to these conflict situation vital
important for enter IOR. Other hand Middle East crises are the major problem. Direct
and indirect assistance of western countries Islamic extremist threaten enter region as
well as entre world has been affected due to this conflict environment. There are
many more such conflicts and political instabilities have been presence in this
resourceful regional in badly way.

CONCLUSION

20. To achieve sustained economic growth rate China and India are growing
geopolitical and military influence in Indian Ocean region and automatically it has
transfer to enter world. In modern phenomena their developmental similarities,
bilateral strategic rivalry competing priorities can be identified as on most major
global issues. These two nuclear stats are creating tense situations basically non-
proliferation system, Asian security, regional stability, South Asia maritime security,
and cyberspace. These two rising powers are generally creating issues relating to the
international economic system, energy security and the environment. United States of
America, whose super power to enter world is counteracting these two nuclear states
some occasions and specially their also friend with India and worry always with china
due to chinses rapid economic and military development. USA interest in Middle
East countries and IOR and the other hand western interest to IOR and Middle East
region badly affected to rise of this situation smoothly. Now enter world is looking for

10

RESTRICTED
 RESTRICTED

what will be happen next two three decade and surely each and every decisions that
will taken by powerful states definitely affected to the world.

REFERENCES

indian Ocean Naval Symposium , 2016. Geo-strategic and Geo-economic Perspective

of Indian Ocean: , Dhaka,Bangladesh: South Asia Regional Integration.

Evolving Geopolitics of Indian Ocean In- Depth Analysis, by Dr Ahan UR Raham

Kahn

Kaplan, R. D. (2010), Monsoon: The Indian Ocean and the Future of American
Power, New York: Random House

Dr CDR Arnab DAS, ( 2011) Indian leadership must for Indian Ocean region,

Dr Mohommad Khan , ( 2012) India and Tanzania in the geo politics of Indian Ocean.

Dr Manoj Gupth , ( 2016) Geopolitics and maritime security challenges in Indian

Ocean,

Dennis Rumley, ( 2016) Energy security and the Idian Ocean Region

11

RESTRICTED