China has developed several ports along key shipping routes in the Indian Ocean for commercial and military purposes, which some refer to as China's "String of Pearls" strategy. Specifically, ports China has developed in countries like Thailand, Myanmar, Bangladesh, Sri Lanka, Maldives, and Pakistan are of concern to India, as India believes these ports help China expand its influence in the region and encircle India in the Indian Ocean. The "String of Pearls" strategy is a theory about China's diplomatic and economic activities aimed at gaining strategic advantage in the Indian Ocean.