Indian Ocean

International Affairs

Title

45:30

8 of 24 completed

5 of 15 completed

38 of 100 completed

8 of 20 completed

Indian Economy - Understanding the basics of Indian economic system

China’s moves in the Indian Ocean

Context: Recently, China convened the first ‘China-Indian Ocean Region Forum’ bringing together 19 countries from the region except India.

The first Indian Ocean Region Forum on Development Cooperation (IORFDC) was held in Kunming city in China.
Representatives from 19 countries including all countries from South Asia except India attended this event.
The forum was organised by the China International Development Cooperation Agency (CIDCA), China’s new development aid agency.
In this forum, China proposed to establish a marine disaster prevention and mitigation cooperation mechanism between China and countries in the Indian Ocean region (IOR).
China also proposed the establishment of a blue economy think tank network for China and countries in the IOR.
The new China-led forum could be seen as a counter measure to India’s IORA.

The Indian Ocean Rim Association (IORA) is a dynamic inter-governmental organization.
It is aimed at strengthening regional cooperation and sustainable development within the Indian Ocean region.
It has 22 Member States and 10 Dialogue Partners.

IORA’s apex body is the Council of Foreign Ministers (COM) which meets annually.

China’s prominent role in global supply chains, the vast resource base of the Indian Ocean, and the passage of strategic sea lines of communication through the IOR.
Earlier, China’s Foreign Minister Wang Yi, during a visit to Sri Lanka, proposed creating a forum “on the development of Indian Ocean island countries” to “build consensus and synergy, and promote common development”.
China is establishing a more frequent military presence in the waters of the IOR. Beijing’s first ever overseas military facility was set up in Djibouti near the Horn of Africa.
Chinese military planners have previously said the PLA Navy, which earlier this year launched its third aircraft carrier, has a long-term plan to deploy six aircraft carriers to secure China’s maritime interests, and that two of them will be based in the Indian Ocean Region.

China’s initiation of a new forum for IOR countries despite the other successfully established forums is worrisome.
China has been relentlessly trying to ramp up political, economic and security inroads in the region despite being geographically far from IOR.
Apparently aimed at countering India’s strong influence in the region.
China has often been accused of engaging in “debt diplomacy”.

India has a central role in the region and for regional actors. Thus, IOR countries should not ignore India’s strategic interests and concerns.
India’s importance in the region can not be marginalised as there is a growing trust deficit when it comes to China.

China-Indian Ocean Region Forum is the recent initiative of China that reflects its growing interest in the Indian Ocean region. India on the other hand is quite apprehensive of the initiative and instead supports the already-established Indian Ocean Rim Association.