India's Role in the South China Sea: Geopolitics and Geoeconomics in Play

This article looks at the South China Sea, an area of dispute between China and other littoral states, as a new area of geopolitical and geoeconomic interest for India. The article follows the strategic discourse on the South China Sea circulating in the Indian government and wider strategic community, and brings in Chinese responses and interpretations of India's involvement. India's role in the South China Sea is four-fold: first, naval deployments; second, increasing strategic-military links with littoral states like Singapore, Indonesia, the Philippines, and Vietnam; third, economic involvement of Indian energy companies in South China Sea waters; and fourth, discussions between India and other regional and extra-regional China-concerned powers about the South China Sea. India's involvement in the South China Sea represents a new development in its Look East Policy, a new balancing factor in the interplay of actors within these waters, and a new friction factor within India-China relations. Notes David Scott is a Lecturer in international relations at Brunel University. 1. David Scott, “The Great Power ‘Great Game’ between China and India—The ‘Logic of Geography, ’” Geopolitics Vol. 13, No. 1 (Jan. 2008), pp. 1–26; Iskander Rehman, “Keeping the Dragon at Bay: India's Counter-containment of China in Asia, ” Asian Security Vol. 5, No. 2 (May-Aug. 2009), pp. 114–53. 2. Mohan Malik, China and India: Great Power Rivals (Boulder: Lynne Rienner Publishers, 2011). Also, Sumit Ganguly and Manjeet Pardesi, “Can China and India Rise Peacefully? , ” Orbis Vol. 56, No. 3 (June 2012), pp. 470–85. 3. “PM says India and China are Not in Competition, ” Deccan Herald, November 23, 2009, http: //www. deccanherald. com/content/37458/pm-says-india-china-not. html 4. 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Also “India-Vietnam Oil Exploration Deal Must Be Stopped, ” People's Daily, October 14, 2011, http: //english. peopledaily. com. cn/90780/7617302. html. 84. Media Briefing by Official Spokesperson on EAM's visit to Hanoi, September 15, 2011, http: //meaindia. nic. in/mystart. This stance was widely commented on by Indian observers. For example, Jaynth Jacob and Reshma Patil, “Beijing Says Keep off South China Sea, Delhi Unmoved, ” Hindustan Times, September 16, 2011, http: //www. hindustantimes. com/India-news/NewDelhi/Beijing-says-keep-off-S-China-Sea-Delhi-unmoved/Article1-746246. aspx; Ishan Tharoor, “Is This How Wars Start? India and China Now Feud Over the South China Sea, ” Time, September 19, 2011, http: //world. time. com/2011/09/19/is-this-how-wars-start-india-and-china-now-feud-over-the-south-china-sea/; Rahul Prakash, “South China Sea—Another Area of India-China Confrontation? , ” Analysis (ORF) Vol. 1, No. 39 (October 3, 2011), p. 1; S. D. Muni, “The Turbulent South-China Sea Waters: India, Vietnam and China, ” ISAS Insights Vol. 140, No. 11 (October 2011), 11 pp. 85. Media Briefing by Official Spokesperson (see note 84 above). 86. Arun Prakash, “Where Are Our Ships Bound? , ” Indian Express, October 1, 2012, http: //www. indianexpress. com/news/where-are-our-ships-bound-/854100. 87. Ibid. 88. Utpal Bhaskar, “OVL to Resume Drilling in South China Sea, ” Wall Street Journal, January 8, 2012, http: //www. livemint. com/Home-Page/FBW7tY2EP3egmwTXji5WjK/OVL-to-resume-drilling-in-South-China-Sea. html. 89. “Keep Off South China Sea, India Warned, ” Times of India, March 26, 2012, http: //articles. timesofindia. indiatimes. com/2012-03-26/india/31239708₁ₒil-exploration-south-china-sea-india-affairs; Saibal Dasgupta, “Keep Off South China Sea, India Warned, ” Times of India, April 5, 2012, http: //articles. timesofindia. indiatimes. com/2012-04-05/india/31293728₁ₛpratly-islands-south-china-sea-maritime-areas. Pant argued amid some initial hesitations by India for a robust Indian reaffirmation; “Why India Must Not Withdraw from the South China Sea, ” Rediff News, June 1, 2011, http: //www. rediff. com/news. 90. “India's Sea Oil Push Politically Motivated” (see note 16 above). 91. Pant, “India's Growing Interest in the South China Sea, ” Rediff News, December 9, 2012, http: //www. rediff. com/news. 92. Hao Zhu, “China Warns India Against Oil Exploitation, ” Global Times, December 5, 2012, http: //www. globaltimes. cn/content/748314. shtml; Mei Jingya, “India Should Respect Chinese Rights in the South China Sea: FM, ” Sina English, December 5, 2012, http: //english. sina. com/china/2012/1204/534131. html 93. Bagchi, “Manila Hails Navy Chief's Stand on South China Sea, ” Times of India, December 19, 2012, http: //articles. timesofindia. indiatimes. com/2012-12-19/india/35911780₁ₛouth-china-sea-dai-bingguo-president-aquino