Chinese Military Base In The Indian Ocean Near Maldives Figment of Imagination
By
Colonel Awadhesh Kumar, Veteran
During the Maldives crisis in 2018, the Mighty Chinese Navy showed all the indications of coming to display its might in support of its friend Abdulla Yameen. However when they heard about the Indian Navy exercise in Andaman sea and nearby, the PLAN turned tail right after crossing the Sunda Strait.
At the maximum the Chinese Navy can sustain a battle group of not more than 6 to 7 ships in the Indian Ocean Region at a time and these stand no chance in any confrontation with rhe Indian Navy supported by the Indian Air Force.
For India, the Indian Ocean Region (IOR) and the countries located in the region including the Maldives are of strategic importance and New Delhi considers them as a part of its sphere of influence.So, the latest reports saying that India has a major threat developing right at its heal is figment of imagination or a propagation of that much repeated theory of String of Pearls.
Chinese had leased an island from the Maldives government for commercial purposes during Yameen’s time. At that time the Chinese may have had some secret dream of using it as a listening post, though even then they must have been fully aware of its implications. India will never let any country, not even the USA or Russia to build any military base in Maldives or Sri Lanka, Nepal or Bangladesh.
In case the Chinese try to turn the commercial activities in the Maldives into a military one for any purpose, even for logistic support for its ships in the Indian ocean, then India will have no options but to intervene militarily.
So formation of a military base by arch-foe China in the Indian Ocean region near the Maldives will invite swift military action and the Chinese will be simply punched out like it was done at Naku La recently.
Indian will not even wait to display concerns over it as explained by Nitin J Ticku while talking to the EurAsian Times.
The Chinese leased Maldivian island of Feydhoo Finolhu Island has no doubt undergone a massive facelift. The island, leased until 2066 by China from the Maldivian government for $4 million, has seen a dramatic increase in size from 38,000 sq. metres to 100,000 sq meters and is undergoing rapid construction as well.
The construction on this island as well as the face-lift mirrors Chinese actions on the Spratly Islands in the South China Sea. After denying any militarization ambitions, Beijing did acknowledge creating a military base on the island and justified its actions by saying that it ‘’has a natural right as a sovereign nation”.
Let the Chinese try any activity on this island other than the commercial activity for which it has been leased, then it will surely come to know about its rights in the Indian Ocean Region.
Chinese are fully aware that,India considers the countries in the Indian Ocean including the Maldives to fall under its sphere of influence. Though it has always maintained friendly relations with all countries in the region but will not permit the Chinese to construct a military base in the Maldives.
The geographical proximity of Feydhoo Islands is just 900 km from Minicoy Island in the Union Territory and close to 1000kms from the Indian mainland.
Surveillance ships from here can easily collect hydrological data to track sub-surface operations of India like deployment submarines. The island is also astride the shipping route in the region.
An inimical military base in the Maldives would tilt the geopolitical balance against India. Currently, India does not have any military bases in the area but only established radar outposts or surveillance systems in Seychelles, Madagascar and Mauritius.
The Chinese government has vehemently denied that such a strategy exists but Beijing has access to Ports in locations in Myanmar, Sri Lanka, Pakistan and Djibouti.
In Myanmar, China has control over Kyaukpyu port, a commercial maritime facility. China also maintains a naval intelligence unit at a base in Coco Islands, near the UT of Andaman and Nicobar Island.
In Sri Lanka, a Chinese company has leased the Hambantota Port for 99 years as part of a deal with the government.Under CPEC the Chinese already have a port at Gwadar.
With ports in all these countries, China has commercial access in the Indian Ocean. However it does not mean that China has surrounded India. The first hint of military activity by China will invite swift retaliation by India.
In case of any conflict even Gwadar will be visited by Indian Su30 MK Is armed with BRAHMOS missiles. China is fully aware of this fact.
Outstanding debt of around $1.5 billion (2018) does not give China any leverage to have its way in the Maldives. So far, Beijing has leased 17 islands through an “opaque leasing process”, which means that projects started as real estate projects before turning into something else.
However if China was to turn the Feydhoo Islands into a military base, India possesses the WILL POWER and the firepower to stop it.
New Delhi recently announced that regardless of the COVID-19 crisis, the Indian Navy remains battle-ready.
Subtler messages were sent to Beijing as Indian Navy flexed its maritime might with naval destroyers guided navy ships carrying Indian citizens home on repatriation voyages.
India is not leaving any stone unturned to turn the tide in its direction in the Indian Ocean region. Under the repatriation mission, India is also assisting Maldives, Madagascar, Comoros, Seychelles and Mauritius by offering medical aid, supplies and health professionals to tackle the COVID-19 crisis and keep its influence intact.
The Indian Ocean has the potential to give a very bloody nose to the Chinese and therefore they should not try and play games like they have been doing in South of China Sea.
