Theater of India-China strategic rivalry: The Indian Ocean

Abstract The strategic importance of the Indian Ocean is increasing in the world in general and in India’s sub-continent in particular. The Indian Ocean is world’s third largest water body on the surface of the Earth and has increasingly become an area of contention between India and China. As their power, interests, capabilities, and economy increases, the competition between the two Asian giants also increases. This competition has the potential to endanger the stability of the region, which is significant for all key players in the region. This article presents the strategic importance of the Indian Ocean, gives an overview of India’s strategic interests and China’s growing ambitions in the Indian Ocean Region (IOR), analyzes the current power dynamics and gives recommendations on how India should approach and prioritize this strategically significant region.