String of Pearls
- Definition: The String of Pearls is a geopolitical and strategic concept used to describe China’s growing influence and military presence in the Indian Ocean Region (IOR) through a series of ports, bases, and diplomatic ties with countries in South Asia and beyond.
- Features
- It involves the development of commercial and military facilities along key maritime choke points and sea routes from the South China Sea, across the Indian Ocean, to the Arabian Sea and Persian Gulf.
- Objectives
- Securing Maritime Trade Routes: The Indian Ocean is critical for China’s energy imports, particularly oil from the Middle East. By establishing ports and bases, China seeks to secure these maritime routes.
- Energy Security: China’s growing dependence on energy imports has driven the need for secure, alternate routes that bypass traditional chokepoints like the Strait of Malacca.
- Military Influence: Establishing military facilities, or at least having strategic partnerships, allows China to increase its military reach and protect its interests far from its shores.
- Economic Expansion: The development of these ports and facilities also helps China strengthen its economic relationships through the Belt and Road Initiative (BRI), enhancing trade and infrastructure investments in partner countries.
- Location of Points Connecting String
- Gwadar Port, Pakistan: Located near the Strait of Hormuz, it provides China with a direct route to the Arabian Sea. It is seen as crucial for China’s access to energy resources in the Middle East.
- Hambantota Port, Sri Lanka: A strategically located port that China has developed and holds a 99-year lease. It is located near major shipping lanes, giving China influence over maritime routes.
- Chittagong Port, Bangladesh: An important port for China to increase its presence in the Bay of Bengal.
- Kyaukpyu Port, Myanmar: Provides China access to the Indian Ocean and bypasses the Strait of Malacca, reducing dependence on that vulnerable chokepoint.
- Marao Atoll, Maldives: China has developed strong ties with the Maldives, increasing its presence in the Indian Ocean.
- Seychelles and Djibouti: China’s military base in Djibouti (Horn of Africa) is its first overseas military base, ensuring its presence near strategic sea lanes and allowing it to project military power in the region.
Impact on India
- Strategic Encirclement:
- China’s network of ports and facilities in countries like Pakistan, Sri Lanka, Myanmar, and Bangladesh poses a strategic threat to India by encircling it with Chinese military and economic influence.
- These “pearls” could serve as Chinese naval bases, undermining India’s security in the Indian Ocean Region (IOR).
- Erosion of India’s Influence in South Asia:
- Countries like Sri Lanka, Bangladesh, and Maldives, traditionally under India’s influence, are increasingly dependent on China due to heavy Chinese investments in infrastructure projects, creating a geopolitical challenge for India.
- Threat to Maritime Security:
- China’s growing naval presence through Gwadar (Pakistan), Djibouti (East Africa), and other strategic points threatens India’s control over key shipping lanes in the IOR, particularly those critical for energy and trade security.
- Economic Competition:
- China’s investments in regional ports (like Hambantota in Sri Lanka) challenge Indian ports, potentially diverting trade and increasing Chinese influence over regional commerce.
- Energy Security Concerns:
- The proximity of China’s presence to vital energy chokepoints (like the Strait of Hormuz) is concerning for India’s energy supply chain, particularly during times of conflict.
- Geopolitical Rivalry and Regional Instability:
- China’s deepening ties with Pakistan and other South Asian countries create potential security threats for India, particularly through the China-Pakistan Economic Corridor (CPEC) and the Gwadar port project.
- Increased Naval Modernization for India:
- India has accelerated its naval modernization to counter Chinese influence by upgrading submarines, aircraft carriers, and enhancing surveillance and defense capabilities in the IOR.
- Strengthening Strategic Alliances:
- India has been building alliances with global and regional powers (e.g., Quad with the U.S., Japan, and Australia) and deepening relations with Indian Ocean island nations to counterbalance China’s influence.
Initiatives by India to Counter China’s String Pearls
- SAGAR (Security and Growth for All in the Region): India’s strategic vision for the Indian Ocean, aimed at ensuring security and cooperation with IOR countries to strengthen its role as a net security provider.
- Chabahar Port Development (Iran): India is developing the Chabahar Port in Iran to counterbalance China’s influence in Gwadar, offering an alternative trade route to Afghanistan and Central Asia, bypassing Pakistan.
- Project Mausam: India’s cultural and economic initiative aimed at enhancing its maritime ties with countries along the Indian Ocean rim, positioning itself as a key partner in the region and providing an alternative to China’s Belt and Road Initiative (BRI).
- Act East Policy: Aims to strengthen economic and strategic ties with Southeast Asian nations, focusing on enhancing connectivity, trade, and maritime security in the Indo-Pacific.
- Naval Diplomacy and Joint Exercises: India has increased its naval diplomacy through joint exercises, port visits, and military assistance to IOR nations like Maldives, Mauritius, Seychelles, and Vietnam, aiming to counter China’s growing influence.
- Andaman and Nicobar Command Modernization: India has been upgrading its Andaman and Nicobar Command, located at a strategic point near the Malacca Strait, a critical maritime chokepoint, to strengthen its ability to monitor Chinese activities in the Indian Ocean.
- Developing Defense and Maritime Agreements: India has signed defense and logistical agreements with France, the U.S., Japan, and Australia to access naval bases and enhance maritime cooperation in the Indo-Pacific region.
- Policy: Neckles of Diamond