China’s position in Indian Ocean will disrupt peace in region, experts say
Calcutta:
Defense and strategy experts said on Monday that China’s position in the Indian Ocean would disrupt stability and peace in the region.
The commander of the National Defense College, Vice Admiral Pradeep Kaushiva, said the People’s Liberation Army (PLA) of China has established naval bases in the Indian Ocean for a long time.
The PLA Navy may need such bases in large numbers to minimize geographic distance from China, he said during a webinar hosted by the Tillotama Foundation.
“In such a scenario, the Indian Ocean is about to experience turbulence and I think it is on the horizon,” said Vice Admiral Kaushiva.
He said: “It is time to move forward with the Quad Security Dialogue – comprising the United States, Japan, Australia and India – to stem the rise of expansionist China and protect the security of the region “.
In November 2017, the four countries formed the “Quad” or Quadrilateral coalition to develop a new strategy to keep critical Indo-Pacific sea routes free from influence.
David Brewster, Australian National University (ANU), said China’s approach to the Indian Ocean is political and strategic.
Brewster is a Senior Fellow at the National Security College of ANU, where he specializes in strategic affairs in South Asia and the Indian Ocean.
He said: “There has been a significant deterioration in relations between Australia and China over the past six months as our country hailed the need for an independent investigation into the COVID crisis.”
Beijing subsequently imposed sanctions on Australia, he said.
However, China needs Australian resources like iron ore for which the trade balance was not in favor of China, Brewster said.
He said China was increasingly concerned
influence in the Indian Ocean and it is time to make Quad a credible group.
According to him, the COVID crisis will significantly change the economy of the Belt and Road Initiative (BRI).
The BIS is a multibillion-dollar initiative launched by Chinese President Xi Jinping upon coming to power in 2013.
It aims to connect Southeast Asia, Central Asia, the Gulf region, Africa and Europe through a network of land and sea routes.
Jayanath Colombage, additional secretary to the president and former commander of the Sri Lankan navy, said his country was not happy with what is happening in the Indian Ocean.
He said the Port of Hambantota, in which China has an 85% stake, is a Sri Lankan port, not a Chinese one.
“We will not allow anyone to use a single inch of our land for military purposes which could pose a threat to the security of India,” he added.
(Except for the title, this story was not edited by GalacticGaming staff and is posted from a syndicated feed.)
