Is China planning another String of Pearls around India?

China has been actively involved in Pakistan due to the China-Pakistan Economic Corridor (CPEC) which is termed as a game-changer, because Pakistan is in an economic slump, and now with Chinese investments, Pakistan is slowing steeping into the Chinese debt trap. China has been actively involved in the Gwadar Port and recently Pakistan has handed over its islands Bundal and Buddo off the coast to China. This has led the Pakistan People’s Party to face a lot of criticism.[1] These islands will pave the way for future Chinese investment and would give China and Pakistan strategic leverage in this region.

The Gwadar Port in Pakistan is of strategic importance as it is a warm water deep seaport and is also a hub of commercial and economic activities. The geostrategic location of this port is interesting as it is situated at the mouth of the Persian Gulf and the Strait of Hormuz. Also, this port holds access to the 2/3 world oil reserves. Thus, it is a major port of importance for Pakistan.  For Pakistan, this port is essential from the perspective of monitoring the Sea Lines of Communications and has links to the region of South Asia, Africa, Central Asia, the Gulf and the Middle East which gives Pakistan a strategic leverage in this region. Therefore, this port has attracted Pakistan’s all-weather friend China to invest and develop this port. China has been actively building this port up since 2013 and apart from the Gwadar port, they have also built the Gwadar city, power generation plants and an international airport. This port is also a part of an array of activities like shipment and seasonal cargo. China has also pro missed to generate employment, economic growth, tourism and increase the foreign exchange reserves. This port has also been made a part of the China-Pakistan Economic Corridor (CPEC)[2] and this would majorly benefit in a big way. It is important to understand that due to a poor economic scenario in Pakistan, Pakistan is completely becoming enslaved by China and one also needs to remember China being an aggressive power does nothing without their complete interest. China as we know has been arm-twisting and bullying most of the other South Asian and Southeast Asian nations, luring them into infrastructural projects and economic development, and eventually debt trapping them. There is a major possibility that China could be very smartly doing the same to Pakistan.

China has been actively investing in Maldives as China knows that this archipelagic nation is a major part of the Indian Ocean shipping routes. A Chinese developer has built a resort on Feydhoo Finolhu, and it is of strategic location as this isle can monitor the traffic and is also near the international airport. It is also believed that China has dredged a channel into the fringing reef and has also created a small harbour for boats to dock. Another Chinese developer has built the Tolarno Maldives Kunaavashi Resort and it is believed to be used for secret military uses. China has also invested in several infrastructural projects in Male and has become the administrative and commercial hub which makes it economically viable, making a lucrative way ahead. There are two more projects like the expansion of the Velana International Airport in Male and also the construction of the Sinamales bridge which connects to Hulhumale and these have been funded by Export Import Bank of China.[3] According to satellite images in February 2020, China has reclaimed some land near India and close to Male airport. This reclaiming of land is dangerous for India since it is also believed that China is probably going to damage the reef.[4]

China has its support base in Djibouti which is operated as a military base by the PLA and the significance is that it shows China’s power projection in the Horn of Africa and the Indian Ocean. Also, strategically is situated by the Bab-el-Mandeb Strait and is located by the Doraleh port. Djibouti is of high importance strategically as it is also home to other foreign base like Camp Lemonnier (United States Navy), Base Aerienne 188 (French Air Force) and the Japan Self-Defense Force Base Djibouti. Therefore, this country is a complete show of power with regard to all international players.

Therefore, this is a possibility that China could be building another ‘String of Pearls’ around India by creating its presence in the Gwadar port to Bundal and Buddo Islands to Maldives and Djibouti, which is precisely why India must tackle this setting up of its own string of pearls by creating its own line up of ports and islands from Kandla - Okha - Mumbai - Nhava Sheva port - Mormugao - New Mangalore -Vizhinjam - Kochi - the Andaman and Nicobar Islands.

What should India do to tackle this?

First, India must work towards strengthening its western ports around its coastal areas like modernizing and equipping the ports of Kandla and Okha in Gujarat Mumbai and Nhava Sheva (Navi Mumbai) in Mumbai, Mormugao in Goa, New Mangalore in Mangalore, Vizhinjam International Seaport and Kochi port in Kerala and create a maritime chain of ports which could be like India’s String of pearls in this region and also make their own strategic chokepoint. These ports should be designed in such a way that in case any unforeseen events take place then India would be prepared. These ports must be seen from a strategic point of view and must be designed in a way that would also keep a side an option of creating a military base which could be used in unforeseen events. These military bases must be like logistics centres along with refuelling opportunities and must have an airbase along with barracks for the officers.

Second, India must keep in mind that it also needs to protect the Lakshadweep Islands as China could be eyeing that and the way Chinese maritime aggressiveness is at an all high, India needs to prepare to protect its sovereignty and territorial integrity with regard to the Lakshadweep Islands. To protect these islands, India should try and station units of their Defence forces in the ports of Mormugao in Goa, New Mangalore in Mangalore and Vizhinjam and Kochi in Kerala as they are the closest to the Lakshadweep Islands. Also, the importance of the Indian Navy is huge here as it is one of the toughest and sought after Naval forces in the world as it does a brilliant job in protecting the Indian Ocean and so, keeping this in mind, a part of the ports in Goa, Mangalore and Kerala must be given to the Indian Navy.

Third, India must look to also host exercises in the Arabian Sea like it did since 1992 and the last one was done in 2006 with the United States of America. India must host joint exercises with Quad members, like the Malabar exercises, especially with Japan being a maritime nation and more importantly India’s all-weather friend should be invited to not only do joint exercises, but also help India build its port facilities as it is doing in the Andaman and Nicobar Islands.

Fourth, India must set up its own string of pearls strategy in the Arabian Sea, as by joining and creating a continuous chain of ports, India would not only defend its western coastal lines but also link it to the Andaman and Nicobar Islands which could be a major game changer, as recently India held a joint services exercise under the Andaman and Nicobar Command and it worked towards interoperability and synergy among the three services-the Army, Air Force and Navy to maximize their fullest potential.

Fifth, India must look into its historical and cultural past of shipbuilding methods and also, look at the way the kingdoms of Cholas, Chera and Pandyas managed their Navies and what routes they took with regard to the western coastline of India and the Indian Ocean. India’s rich historical past would pave the way for greater maritime ideas especially with regard to how Gujarat has functioned as an international port and place of trade and commerce for centuries and over several civilizations.

Sixth, if possible, India must look at the China’s idea of the fishing militia and try to work on similar lines if possible as it would also reduce the work on the three services and also look for ways to fully train and equip these military milia in the maritime domain.

Notes

[1] Chinese takeover of Sindh islands feared as Pakistan government takes this crucial step published by News24Online. https://news24online.com/news/world/chinese-takeover-sindh-islands-feared-pakistan-government-takes-crucial-step-c8d1ab44/ Accessed on 8 November 2020.

[2] Please refer to Significance of Gwadar port published by Hellenic Shipping News dated 27 March 2019. https://www.hellenicshippingnews.com/significance-of-gwadar-port/#:~:text=The%20port%20holds%20great%20strategic,international%20trade%20hub%20for%20Pakistan.Accessed on 8 November 2020.

[3] Chinese Investment in the Maldives: Appraising the String of Pearls published by Asia Maritime Transparency Initiative dated 4 September 2020. https://amti.csis.org/chinese-investment-in-the-maldives-appraising-the-string-of-pearls/ Accessed on 8 November 2020.

[4] China at it again! Constructs artificial Island in Maldives concerning India published by News Bharati dated 13 May 2020. https://www.newsbharati.com/Encyc/2020/5/13/China-.html Accessed on 8 November

(The views expressed are personal)

Gitanjali Sinha Roy is a research assistant at the Centre for Land Warfare Studies (CLAWS), India.