ABSTRACT
China’s presence in the Indian Ocean has stimulated substantial scholarly and policy debate about the prospects for strategic rivalry or cooperation at sea. It is becoming increasingly clear that in the twenty-first century, the world’s strategic and economic centre of gravity is shifting to Asia, and the Indian Ocean Region is gaining strategic significance. China, keeping in mind the geostrategic importance of Indian Ocean Region, has moved towards the Indian subcontinent. This ingress of China into Indian Ocean Region has been viewed by India as one of the most apprehensive challenge that Indian foreign policy is to face in the twenty-first century. Together with its massive economic growth and military modernization, China has over a period of last few decades succeeded in connecting or getting access to South Asia through well-built highways and rail network, which has enabled it to have unrestricted access towards Arabian Sea, Bay of Bengal and to the whole of Indian Ocean. This move has been welcomed by many Indian Ocean littoral states to counterbalance India’s influence in the region. Now, the entry of China into South Asian region has sprang up complex multifaceted security scenario within Indian Ocean Region mainly, due to the China-Pakistan relations. A number of Indian Ocean littoral states have tilted towards China due to the opportunities it provides for economic growth and security reasons. The entry of China into Indian Ocean Region, which is Indian stronghold, has worried India. India perceives Chinese move to its backyard as an attempt to contain its rise; hence it is likely that India will take some effective measures in order to counter the Chinese ambition to encircle India in the Indian Ocean Region.
