Indian Ocean dynamics: An Indian perspective

PROBAL GHOSH of the Observer Research Foundation states that the Indian Ocean region with its extensive trade, energy flows, piracy, terrorism and transnational crime has seen increasing struggle for maritime influence from players such as India, China, Australia, Indonesia and South Africa seeking primacy along with the US with new strategic questions being raised due to the number of naval forces acting independently in the region. The Chinese naval deployment in this field not only reinforced its strategic reach and sustenance capability, but also displayed its capacity to act swiftly and flexibly.
In a commentary for the East Asian Forum, "Indian Ocean dynamics: An Indian perspective", he states that while China was making increasing forays into South Asia as part of its string of pearls strategy, India was seeking to neutralise Beijing's influence by courting states in its periphery such as Japan, Korea and Vietnam, enhancing politico-military relations with the states of South East Asia, East Africa and the islands of the Indian Ocean.

He concludes that India would continue to enhance its influence in the Indian Ocean region in strong partnership with Australia, South Africa and Indonesia in tacit partnership with the US.

Beijing's maritime ambitions

CHRIS RAHMAN, fellow of Maritime Strategy and Security at the University of Woolongong explores the central tenets of China’s maritime security agenda and states that Beijing’s maritime ambitions and behavior indicate a bid for geopolitical pre-eminence in East Asia. In a policy analysis for the Australian Strategic Policy Institute, "China's maritime strategic agenda", he argues that the Chinese navy's growing ability to deny access to East Asian seas in a crisis or conflict, disrupting the security system led by US Pacific Command rather than its blue water capabilities most threatens regional order and harmony at seas.