Daily Times

Undoubtedly, History proved that the changing shadow of global politics and power transition from one state/region to the other state/region, that leads to geopolitical clashes of interests between emerging and existing powers. It is said that, 19th century has been marked as the British century because of its trade and naval power domination.Same is the case of the 20th century which was known as the Americanized because of its economic and military superiority. But now there is a turning point of the power spectrum and geopolitics which is transforming from America to Asia. However, in recent global geopolitical debatethe term ‘Asian Century’ is highly being used because of the growing Asian countries such as China, India, and Japan due to their robust economy and strong military buildups.

The Indo-Pacific consisting of Indian Ocean Region and Western Pacific. Beginning from eastern Africa and passes through East and South Asia all the way to South China Sea and defined by connectivity and conflicts between regional and global powers. Today, theregion captivates world’s economic Centre of gravity and maritime strategy is shaping geopolitical outcomes in 21st century. Alfred Thayer Mahan was an American based historian and naval strategist argued that, “Whoever controls the Indian Ocean dominates Asia. This ocean is the key to the seven seas in the twenty-first century, the destiny of the world will be decided in these waters.” Due to the rising importance of Indo-Pacific region in political, economic and security sphere, the region hasbecome at the epicenter of geopolitics. In addition, Asian countries are with their economic developments and trade partnership playing a prominent role in the world’s geopolitical and economic landscape. Recently, China is the world’s fastest-growing economy and its One Belt, One Road initiative is a mega project in contemporary world consisting of six major economic corridors which connect more than 65 countries from different continents.

Probably, the Indo-Pacific’s geopolitical chessboard comprises of numerous regional and global powers, having various conflicting and contradictory interests and ambitions in the region. Whereas, the growing influence of china in the region economically and militarily might be the source of contestation between involved parties. China’s rise presents power transition which is a major threat to US, India and Japan. However, rising China is unacceptable for these parties. These parties perceived China’s BRI project as major regional as well as global threat and distinguish it as an encirclement policy known as the string of pearls towards the region. But Chinese officials never directly claimed that the purpose of the project is rather than economic development and regional connectivity. Probably, the geostrategic competition exists in the region either economically or militarily. Undoubtedly, China’s building of commercial ports and military bases in the region is not just based on economic purposes but rather she has strategic ambitions. Whereas, Sri-Lanka and Djibouti are the prime examples of Chinese debt trap diplomacy called neo-colonialism. Owing more than $1 billion in debt to china, Sri Lanka surrendered Hambantota port to Chinese companies owned by government on a 99-year lease. Same is the case with Djibouti located in the Horn of Africa, where china built its first overseas military base. On the other hand, Gwadar port in Pakistan, Chittagong in Bangladesh, and Kyaukpyu in Myanmar where she is also willing to use these commercial ports in the near future for military and strategic purposes to check India and USA in the region. These dilemma in the Indo-Pacific further intensify the regional strategic competition between contending parties.

Whoever controls the Indian Ocean dominates Asia. This ocean is the key to the seven seas in the twenty-first century, the destiny of the world will be decided in these waters

In addition,India believes that she is the sole south Asian power and owned Indian ocean as a natural part of India and Chinese massive investment in India’s neighboring countries such as Pakistan, Bangladesh, and Sri Lanka further enhance India’s sense of fear and threat to its national security and interest. Whereas, China has strategic ambition to encircle India. There is a chain of fear among South Asian countries from each other India fear and perceived threat by China, Pakistan feels threat by its arch-rival India, and China perceived a threat by India and its ally the USA. Whereas China may or may not have any long-lasting goal in the IOR, but she is interested to maintain power balance because of economic, political, strategic and diplomatic significant of the region. China’s growing military presence in the Indian Ocean should not come as a surprise. China is following in the traditional path of other rising powers; it is expanding its military operations to match its interests abroad.

Therefore, the emerging of Chinese influence alarmed India, to take the counter strategic policy to contain and thwart Chinese intentions and India perceived it as an expansionist and imperialist encircling strategic policy. Now, Indian policymakers are advancing their naval power under the Indian Maritime Doctrine and modernizing the Blue Water Navy to reach other ports and bases to contain chines strategic emergent in the Indo-Pacific Region. India’s Look East policy is a counter move to establish economic and defense ties with Chinese neighbors and southeast Asian nations such as Japan, Taiwan, Philippine, Indonesia, Malaysia, and South Korea to counter China. Similarly, in Arabian and Indian ocean also building Chabahar port of Iran and Duqm port of Oman for economic and military purposes. Now India is going to respond to China’s encirclement policy through its containment policy.

Furthermore, The Quadrilateral Security Dialogue (QSD), which is a security and strategic dialogue between India, Australia, Japan, and the United States. The dialogue was formally originated in 2007, by the leaders of these countries prime minister Shinzo Abe of Japan, PM John Howard of Australia, PM Manmohan Singh of India and Vice President Dick Cheney of the US. The strategic, military, security and the diplomatic arrangement was at the center of the discussion and viewed as a response to Chinese growing economic, strategic and military power in the Asia-Pacific region. The Chinese strengthening economic and military power is a major cause of regional alignment in the Indo-Pacific region. Chinese aggressive assertiveness in the south china sea and Indian ocean region is perceived by Quad members as a threat to national security, regional and international system. The major geopolitical rivalry, massive strategic and infrastructural investment, territorial disputes in the Asia Pacific region by regional powers from the last decade have led to alignment geopolitics.

On the other hand, United Stateshas been one of the leadingplayers in Indo-Pacific geopolitical competition. Due to the expanding geopolitical as well as geo-economics influence of china, US is trying to reshape its Indo-pacific policies to contain and counter china’s maneuvering in the region. The US is responding to china by strengthening its own internal power as well as building regional security and military alliances to contain china. In a nutshell, these geostrategic and geopolitical developments in the region will leads contending parties in a greater geopolitical rivalry which may be caused direct confrontations.

The writer can be reached at Muahammadasif94@gmail.com