2.
Terminology
Series of ports and infrastructure built covering China SLOC.
Each pearl refers to the nodes of economic and millitary
influence of China generally in form of ports.
Ports in Hanin, Sittwe (Myanmar) , Hambantota (Srilanka) ,
Chittagong (Bangladesh) and Gwadar (Pakistan).
Maldives , Thailand , Malaysia.
Introduction
4.
Vulnerability of its SLOC.
He termed his apprehensions as ‘Malacca Dilemma ‘
String of Pearls is a doctrine.
To understand String of Pearls it is imperative to
understand this apprehension.
WHY STRING OF PEARLS ?
5.
MALACCA DILEMMA
Malacca strait is in Indian ocean which connects Indian
and pacific ocean and worlds 25% of trade passes
through this strait. Countries like China , Japan , South
Korea are heavily depended on this sea route for all
6. You can clearly see the bottleneck feature of Malacca strait. This
sea route is lifeline to China’s rapid industrialization and
economic growth.
7. China fears that any hostile country can choke it supplies at
strait of Malacca . The bottleneck feature of the strait allows
easy blockade.
China’s naval admiral Zhang Ming once said that India could
use Andaman and Nicobar islands as ‘iron curtain’ to block
China’s supplies at strait of Malacca.
China knows that India have tremendous control over Indian
ocean as well as significant strategically advantage over
Chinese Navy.
Moreover ,USA operates from small island Diego Garcia at the
center of Indian ocean and it can easily block the Chinese ships.
The use of air force and land based batteries can easily deny
China use of this vital sea route.
10. China , to limit its dependency on this sea route tried several alternatives
like pipelines from Pakistan to Xinjiang and also from Iran to China passing
from India , Pakistan . But all those were not put into action due to several
reason such as length of pipeline , difficult terrain and international
objection
China presently has pipeline from Myanmar but it is very vulnerable due to
volatile situation of the country. China has good links with Junta
government but the recent closeness with western countries is making
China uneasy . It must be noted that soon after taking office as president of
USA , Barack Obama visited Myanmar.
So China is completely dependent on strait of Malacca for delivery of more
than 4 million barrel of crude oil per day . China requires about 5.62
million barrel of crude per day.
So , this is China’s Malacca delimma.
12. China claims its entry in Indian ocean will bring harmony in the
region and it has no intention to encircle India and negates its
influence.
India should not fall for it as the same sweet statements from China
in 1950’s ended as war in 1962.
Port at Myanmar will cut down China’s distance by 3000km from
Bay of Bengal which is controlled by India. Moreover it will make
Strait of Malacca in easy reach of China. An airstrip in Myanmar will
provide effective air cover for its supplies and also in event of
blockade.
Port at Sri Lanka will prove handy in reconnaissance of Indian navy.
Gwadar port in Pakistan controlled by China will make India
vulnerable in the Arabian ocean and will pose problem if India tried
to take step against Pakistan.
China
13. Several Chinese controlled ports in backyard will make Indian
navy uneasy . As for now there had been no confirmed news of
military capabilities of the ports and its for commercial use
only.
India has not recovered from 1962 dogma and is not in position
to overlook China’s treading in Indian ocean. China still has
not settled border issues with India which it has done with all
other countries.
China’s policy of helping Pakistan , an arch rival of India in
terms of military , infrastructure makes India much more
suspicious of China .
China spent more than 2 billion dollars in developing Gwadar
port which is recently transferred to China by Pakistan.
India
14. India’s floundering foreign policy is the main cause because of
which China was able to build ports in neighboring countries
of India.
India was not able to settle boundary issues with China when it
was at its weakest in 1950’s.
Lack of attention towards Myanmar has caused and will cause
trouble in future. Myanmar is most strategic place for
containing China.
India’s bilateral relation with Srilanka is dicey.
15.
India should make foreign policy stringent and think
more pragmatic .
India should take advantage of China’s dicey
bilateral relation with its neighbors for example
Japan, Indonesia, Vietnam, South Korea and Taiwan.
If India is able to improve relation with above
mentioned countries then China will be in same
situation as India and this will potentially break
‘String Of Pearls’.
COUNTERING STRINGS OF PEARL
