Geo-Strategic Importance of Indian Ocean: Clash of Interests between China and India

Abstract

Indian Ocean owns a unique location. In the present era, states are hungry of energy to make their economies boost and are vigilant about the routes through which trade is conducted. India and China want to retain their control over the Indian Ocean. Both states are doing economic, military and infrastructure efforts to assert influence in Indian Ocean Region. The growing ties of China with neighboring states drag India in difficulty and India is getting worried about China’s growth in its backyard. To contain China, India is making informal defense, military alliances with USA, Japan, Russia and Australia. This game of influence indulges China-India in a rift. This competition can disturb whole South Asia region as small states are used as cards by China and India to balance each other. The International players are looking the situation with hawk eyes as they cannot see any disruption in their trade routes. The paper will unfold the power politics between China and India through the spectrum of Balance of Power perspective that by what means both the states are endeavoring to neutralize each other’s influence.