China’s String of Pearls Policy in Indian Ocean: Impact on India’s Security

Abstract

China has been continuously expanding itself in South Asia. Under this, China is building its ports in Pakistan's Gwadar, Bangladesh's Chittagong, Maldives Marao, Sri Lanka's Hambantota, as well as Myanmars Coco Island. After the construction of the Karakoram highway that links Gwadar port, the railway connectivity in the region is being increased. China helped Sri Lanka against the LTTE in Sri Lanka, under which the Chinese influence was greatly strengthened. Sri Lanka has asked help from China to develop the port of Hambantota. India is worried about it because China could use this port for military reasons in future.

Bangladesh has leased China to develop the Chittagong port which will increase China's influence in the Bay of Bengal. China is constructing Signal Intelligence Station at Great Coco Island in Myanmar, with the help of which China can monitor Indian naval communication at sea. In this way, India's missile test areas will come under the eye of China. India's Andaman Island is just 30 nautical miles from here, which will impose a great threat to India's security.