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How should India tackle China's expanding reach in the Indian ocean?
While China's engagement strategy appears to operate on a quid pro quo basis, India's approach seems to be driven by its objectives
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 "Harsh V Pant")
 "Sayantan Haldar")
 "indian military, china, china conflict indian army, defence, army")
The Indian Navy took delivery of the Indigenous Aircraft Carrier (IAC) Vikrant from her builder Cochin Shipyard Limited (CSL), Kochi, in July 2022. The 262-metre carrier has a full displacement of 45,000 tonnes. Photo: PIB
The Indian Ocean is fast emerging as a critical arena of competition for primacy between India and China. Indian interests in the Indian Ocean are anchored by virtue of its location at the heart of the region. Evolving security dynamics in the Indian Ocean pose natural implications for India’s national security priorities. On the other hand, China has also sought to expand its interests and presence across its maritime periphery in the broader Indo-Pacific region, in its bid to emerge as a major power globally. Chinese strategy to expand its influence in the region has entailed multiple facets, including coercive
Written By
Harsh V Pant
Professor Harsh V Pant is Vice President – Studies and Foreign Policy at Observer Research Foundation (ORF), New Delhi. He is a Professor of International Relations with King's India Institute at King’s College London. He is also Director (Honorary) of Delhi School of Transnational Affairs at Delhi University.
 "Harsh V Pant")
Sayantan Haldar
Sayantan Haldar is Research Assistant with the Maritime Security Initiative, ORF.
 "Sayantan Haldar")
First Published: Jun 25 2025 | 8:15 PM IST
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