India and China at Sea: A Contest of Status and Legitimacy in the Indian Ocean

Strategic competition between India and China in the Indian Ocean has potential to profoundly affect the stability and security of the region. essay examines Indian and Chinese views on the status and legitimacy their roles in the Indian Ocean and argues that fundamental differences perceptions could exacerbate an already highly competitive security in the maritime domain. New Delhi tends to have a somewhat attitude toward the region, questioning the legitimacy of any naval presence, particularly China. But Indian strategists also China as having strategic vulnerabilities in the Indian Ocean. For its, Beijing refuses to recognize India’s claims to great-power status or prerogatives in the Indian Ocean region (IOR). essay first summarizes China’s growing strategic imperatives in Indian Ocean. It then considers India’s aspirations to take a leading role the IOR and Indian perspectives on China’s presence in the region. Next, essay discusses Chinese perspectives on India and its role in the Indian and considers the potential consequences for China of the failure to India’s sensitivities into account. In short, I argue that China’s failure to to co-opt India as a partner or address some of its concerns is a mistake. will find it difficult to create a favorable geostrategic environment in Indian Ocean in opposition to India.