China’s growing maritime power is a cause of concern for regional security. Beijing’s claims to the South China Sea, the construction of artificial islands in the region and the establishment of a military base in Djibouti are all evidence of its desire to expand its sphere of influence. Last year, satellite images obtained showed that China’s naval base in Djibouti was fully operational. This base, which is located close to Africa, is capable of supporting Chinese warships deployed in the Indian Ocean region. This is considered an important step, as it is the first time that China has established a fully operational military base in another country.
The base in Cambodia is not far from the Straits of Malacca. The Strait of Malacca is an important outpost, which connects the Indian Ocean and the South China Sea. It is one of the busiest shipping lanes in the world. An estimated 25% of global trade takes place here every year. In the satellite image received, several new buildings, a large ghat and a fence around the perimeter of the base are seen. In a report published last week by UK-based think tank Chatham House, the base was described as, “A dramatic transformation is taking place at the Cambodian naval base near Sihanoukville on the Gulf of Thailand.”
“This project, funded by China, will extend Beijing’s military reach to disputed waters in Southeast Asia,” the report said. With more than 350 warships, the Chinese Navy is the largest in the world. This number is likely to go up to 460 in the next three years. In addition, there are at least 85 patrol vessels, many of which are armed with anti-ship cruise missiles. India counters this maritime challenge with its geography and strategically located Andaman and Nicobar Islands. India is in a good position to monitor the waters of the Indian Ocean not only through warships but also through maritime reconnaissance aircraft. Last year, despite India’s objections, a Chinese surveillance ship stopped at Sri Lanka’s Hambantota port. The ‘Yuan Wang 5 ship’ is equipped with sensors and is believed to have the capability to track the launch of India’s ballistic missiles when they are launched for user or development tests from Abdul Kalam Island, which is off Odisha. Located on the coast. The Yuan Wang-5 is gone, but a companion ship, the Yuan Wang 6, is currently sailing in the southern Indian Ocean.
Former Navy chief Admiral Arun Prakash told, “Cambodia used to be a neutral country and decided not to get too close to China, but it seems that economic or financial compulsions have pushed them into China’s arms.”.The Chinese are helping them to build this port so that the PLA can use it if needed. “We are focusing on micro issues. East Ladakh and LAC, but the ‘big game’ is going to be played in the maritime region.” “As of 2019, China has said it will increase its overseas presence, as one of the world’s largest manufacturers, much of its trade and manufacturing depends on the sea,” he said. To deal with the growing Chinese maritime threat, India has also established deep ties with some of the world’s most powerful navies, including the US, UK, France and Japan. Amid deepening global concerns over Beijing’s growing military presence in the South China Sea and the East China Sea, India also regularly participates in naval exercises such as the Malabar exercise, which takes place between the navies of India, Japan, the US and Australia.
It is reported that across the western Indian Ocean, India is building military infrastructure on Agalega Island in Mauritius to increase its presence in the region. Satellite images accessed, show a large airstrip and port facilities, leading many to believe that the island could prove to be a major Indian naval base in the future, serving the Indian Navy’s long-range p- 8 maritime surveillance aircraft can help. New Delhi needs to form a strategic alliance with its neighbours in the Indian Ocean when China is doing the same at India’s doorstep. In July, India gifted its in-service missile corvette INS Kripan to Vietnam amid widespread concerns over China’s increasingly aggressive behaviour in the South China Sea.
China’s growing maritime power is a cause of concern for regional security. Beijing’s claims to the South China Sea, the construction of artificial islands in the region and the establishment of a military base in Djibouti are all evidence of its desire to expand its sphere of influence. Last year, satellite images obtained showed that China’s naval base in Djibouti was fully operational. This base, which is located close to Africa, is capable of supporting Chinese warships deployed in the Indian Ocean region. This is considered an important step, as it is the first time that China has established a fully operational military base in another country. The base in Cambodia is not far from the Straits of Malacca. The Strait of Malacca is an important outpost, which connects the Indian Ocean and the South China Sea. It is the busiest in the world One of the shipping lanes. An estimated 25% of global trade takes place here every year.
In the satellite image received, several new buildings, a large ghat and a fence around the perimeter of the base are seen. In a report published last week by UK-based think tank Chatham House, the base was described as, “A dramatic transformation is taking place at the Cambodian naval base near Sihanoukville on the Gulf of Thailand.” “This project, funded by China, will extend Beijing’s military reach to disputed waters in Southeast Asia,” the report said. With more than 350 warships, the Chinese Navy is the largest in the world. This number is likely to go up to 460 in the next three years. In addition, there are at least 85 patrol vessels, many of which are armed with anti-ship cruise missiles. India counters this maritime challenge with its geography and strategically located Andaman and Nicobar Islands. India is in a good position to monitor the waters of the Indian Ocean not only through warships but also through maritime reconnaissance aircraft.
Last year, despite India’s objections, a Chinese surveillance ship stopped at Sri Lanka’s Hambantota port. The ‘Yuan Wang 5 ship’ is equipped with sensors and is believed to have the capability to track the launch of India’s ballistic missiles when they are launched for user or development tests from Abdul Kalam Island, which is off Odisha. Located on the coast. The Yuan Wang-5 is gone, but a companion ship, the Yuan Wang 6, is currently sailing in the southern Indian Ocean. Former Navy Chief Admiral Arun Prakash told, “Cambodia used to be a neutral country and decided not to get too close to China, but it seems that economic or financial compulsions have pushed them into China’s arms.”.The Chinese are helping them to build this port so that the PLA can use it if needed. “We are focusing on micro issues. East Ladakh and LAC, but the ‘big game’ is going to be played in the maritime region.”
“As of 2019, China has said it will increase its overseas presence, as one of the world’s largest manufacturers, much of its trade and manufacturing depends on the sea,” he said. To deal with the growing Chinese maritime threat, India has also established deep ties with some of the world’s most powerful navies, including the US, UK, France and Japan. Amid deepening global concerns over Beijing’s growing military presence in the South China Sea and the East China Sea, India also regularly participates in naval exercises such as the Malabar exercise, which takes place between the navies of India, Japan, the US and Australia.
Across the western Indian Ocean, India is building military infrastructure on Agalega Island in Mauritius to increase its presence in the region. Satellite images accessed show a large airstrip and port facilities, leading many to believe that the island could prove to be a major Indian naval base in the future, serving the Indian Navy’s long-range p- 8 maritime surveillance aircraft can help. New Delhi needs to form a strategic alliance with its neighbours in the Indian Ocean when China is doing the same at India’s doorstep. In July, India gifted its in-service missile corvette INS Kripan to Vietnam amid widespread concerns over China’s increasingly aggressive behaviour in the South China Sea.
The government said, “The transfer of INS Kripan from the Indian Navy to the Vietnam People’s Navy is a symbol of the Indian Navy’s position as the ‘preferred security partner’ in the Indian Ocean region and certainly a step towards enhancing the existing bilateral relationship between the two navies.” will be a catalyst.” In 2020, India handed over INS Sindhuvir to the Myanmar Navy, taking a step in line with India’s vision of SAGAR (Security and Development for All in the Region) and its commitment to capacity building and self-reliance in neighbouring countries. In 2022, India signed a $375 million deal to supply three batteries of supersonic cruise missiles to the Philippines. The missiles, which have a range of 400 kilometres and a speed of Mach 2.8, can penetrate most ship-borne defence systems and attack their targets with great precision. These deals present a direct challenge to the Chinese threat in the South China Sea. However, the neighbours of the Himalayas are locked in a competition for maritime supremacy in the Indian Ocean to gain control over a major route connecting the Far East to Europe.
