Ties across the Indian Ocean : The Tribune India

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Ties across the Indian Ocean

Recently published figures on global exports of countries are interesting.

Ties across the Indian Ocean

Port of call: There are concerns that China wants to take over the management of another port in Sri Lanka. Bulk of the cargo handled in Colombo is destined for India.



G Parthasarathy
Former Diplomat 

Recently published figures on global exports of countries are interesting. China, whose exports were less than India’s in 1948, is today the world’s largest exporter, with annual exports of $1.99 trillion. Even the US lags behind China, with annual exports of $1.46 trillion. India, with annual exports of $268.6 billion, ranks 20th — behind Singapore and Taiwan. Those who believe that India can match China’s regional influence, on its own, should remember these facts. India will have to be realistic in seeking to balance Chinese power across the Indian Ocean. We are working with littoral countries against becoming overly dependent on China. Our effort is to balance Chinese power in cooperation with partners like Japan, the US, EU members Germany and France and like-minded Asian countries like Indonesia and Vietnam.

With foreign trade and investment gaining importance in promoting national influence in today’s world, safeguarding maritime security is becoming increasingly important. India is, therefore, paying greater attention now to the security of its sea-lanes across the Indian Ocean ‘neighbourhood’. This extends from Aden and the Straits of Hormuz, the narrow gateway in the oil-rich Persian Gulf, astride India’s western shores, to the Malacca Straits. It is across these sea-lanes that over 60% of the world’s petroleum exports move on maritime routes. These lanes, which move across the Andaman and Nicobar Islands in our east, are also the strategic routes for the flow of oil from across the Indian Ocean to the Pacific Ocean. The Straits of Malacca are regarded as crucial ‘choke points’ for the world’s sea-borne oil supplies. The security of Indian Ocean routes from Hormuz to Malacca, therefore, remains crucial for India’s national security. 

India gets over 70% of its oil supplies across the sea routes of the Indian Ocean. The imperatives of energy security are becoming increasingly complex because of rivalries within the Indian Ocean Region as India now faces an assertive China. Beijing receives most of its oil imports from across the Indian Ocean through the Arabian Sea, the Bay of Bengal and the Straits of Malacca. An estimated 16 million barrels of oil are transported across the Straits of Malacca daily. China would have realistically recognised that any land-based adventure across its borders with India could lead to disruption in its supplies of oil and gas, crossing the narrow straits. China is sparing no effort to expand the Myanmar Port of Kyaukpyu in the Bay of Bengal. This port is linked to it Yunnan province by pipelines across Myanmar. 

Security of the sea-lanes in the Indian Ocean now has global dimensions. Apart from rivalries within the region, its geopolitics is substantially influenced by the US and its allies like Japan, on the one hand, and rivals like China on the other. Tensions also arise from the sectarian, Shia-Sunni and civilisational Arab-Iranian rivalries. Iraq is the only major Arab power with a majority Shia population. It carefully balances ties between its Sunni Arab brethren and Iran! Superimposed on these rivalries are Israeli-Palestinian tensions, with Islamic countries paying lip service to the Palestinian cause. 

While China and India have avoided involvement in these rivalries, India has concerns about China’s ambitions for military bases. China uses its economic clout to offer credits for infrastructure projects, leading recipients into a ‘debt trap’. Beijing has invested $590 million in building a naval base at Djibouti in the Horn of Africa. The US, France and Japan have bases nearby. China took over control of the Hambantota Port in Sri Lanka after Colombo was unable to repay credits. The port of Mombasa, Kenya, appears headed in the same direction, as also the airport in Zambian capital Lusaka. India has been drawing the attention of smaller countries to the dangers of getting exposed to excessive debt liabilities with China. China also extends patronage to leaders like former Maldivian President Abdulla Yameen, who are ‘encouraged’ to ignore Indian interests. PM Modi has evolved a strategy to deal with partner countries across the Indian Ocean. India has taken measures to promote economic and security cooperation with island states like Mauritius, Seychelles and the Maldives. The ‘special relationship’ that India enjoys in Mauritius was evident by the presence of Maldives PM Pravind Jugnauth in the swearing-in ceremony of Modi, both in 2014 and 2019. Three Indian-built patrol boats have been supplied to Mauritius in recent years. Modi noted: ‘As frontline states of the Indian Ocean, PM Jugnauth and I agree that it is our responsibility to ensure collective maritime security around our coasts and in our exclusive economic zone.’ Ties with Seychelles are also being strengthened.

There are concerns that China appears to be undertaking an effort in Colombo to take over the management of another port. India recently offered to participate in building a container terminal in Colombo in collaboration with Japan. The bulk of the cargo handled in Colombo is destined for India. China has, however, made a serious mistake by making untenable claims on maritime borders with its maritime neighbours. It is facing a serious problem with Indonesia, which has demarcated its maritime boundaries with India. Rejecting Chinese claims on its Natuna Islands, Indonesia asserted: ‘China’s territorial claims in the South China Sea have no legal basis under international law.’ Modi and Indonesia’s President Joko Widodo agreed recently that India would cooperate in building the Sabang Port in Indonesia, located close to the Andaman and Nicobar Islands. Our Navy is now well positioned to meet security challenges. Contrary to popular perception, India is moving towards playing a significant role in its Indian Ocean neighbourhood.

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