ABSTRACT
The Indian Ocean region today stands as a microcosm of the contemporary global condition. Stretching from the east African coast, across the Arabian Peninsula, and through the Indian subcontinent into East Asia, the resources and transportation corridors of the greater Indian Ocean region support the ever-growing appetite of today's newest, largest, and fastest-growing global economic and political powers. Militarily, East Asia's presence in the far reaches of the Indian Ocean is evident in the rapidly modernizing Chinese Navy, which has now proved that it can, at least minimally, operate with effect in a permissive environment in the greater Indian Ocean through its emerging regional blue-water naval capabilities. The importance of East Asia to the global economy cannot be overstated. However, just as important is the fact that the region, even in its aggregated diversity, is not self-sustaining due to the current economic and social demands of its member countries.
