1.8. Geo-Strategic Competition

♤ The relation between India and China are shaped and influenced by perceived and real competition that can turn into conflict and needs to be managed.

♤ The rise of China and India coincide, historically rise of powers has resulted in conflict. South Asia, South-East Asia, Indo-Pacific and Africa are certain regions wher this pattern can be seen.

♤ Recent decades have seen the emergence of ideas, such as the String of Pearls, a term coined by US based academics, which refers to the network of Chinese military and commercial facilities and relationships along its sea lines of communication. The sea lines

run through several major maritime choke points such as the Strait of Mandeb (connects the Red Sea to the Gulf of Aden), the Strait of Malacca ( stretch of water between the peninsular Malaysia and the Indonesian island of Sumatra).

♤ The One Belt One Road initiative also involves building maritime infrastructure in the Indian Ocean; this has strategic implications for India. Key countries in India’s nieghbourhood- Pakistan, Sri Lanka, Maldives, Myanmar, Bangladesh- are important locations for OBOR.