Indian Navy As Indo – Pacific’s Security Fulcrum

NewsAnalytics Bureau

a 4 mins read.

Regional Complexity

In 2018 US realigned it’s focus back to the emerging Chinese threats in Asia, it rechristened the region as Indo Pacific. The name change was purposeful to indicate a seamless connect between Indian and Pacific Ocean in context of security in the region. It also better represented resources that the US considered essential for it’s continued domination of this complex region. The terminology was immediately welcomed by US allies and partners while expectedly getting a retort from China and Russia.

China saw the move singularly targeted at it, in a commentary carried by Global Times in December 2020 it was suggested that change of name is a US strategy to draw in India for countering China’s rise as ‘center of power’ in Asia. While Russia refused new proclamation choosing to abide by it’s own definition of the region as Asia-Pacific. It only amplifies how complex regional geopolitics has become, Chinese assertiveness and it’s abject disregard for historical facts has only made the matters worse. Countries after countries who till last decade, and a half were converging on China as the most preferred formula for economic revival are now standing grudgingly against it over issues of national sovereignty.

India’s own security outlook which traditionally has focused upon security of Indian Ocean and Arabian Sea as it’s prime domain was also faced with new challenges in the East and Western Pacific. Emerging maritime threats were raising newer concerns, movement in it’s Eastern corridor was getting restricted by the day, as Chinese made wayward and fanciful claims at alarming regularity. Indian foray with Vietnam oil exploration was objected by China on dubious claims over EEZ. Indian Naval ship was intercepted in high sea by Chinese patrol crafts on it’s way to Vietnam for a port call in 2011. One thing India quickly realised, that it’s clear attempt of squeezing the operational space by Chinese in it’s neighbourhood.

Worsening Situation

The worsening of security situation was very well acknowledged across the region. Chinese continued their adventures in South and East China Sea and were setting a clear pattern with deep message. It wished to become an undisputed power in what it considers it’s sphere of influence. Chinese pressured it’s immediate neighbours Malaysia, Indonesia, Vietnam and the Philippines to forego their historical claims, the only way forward as per Chinese interpretations, were agreeing on Chinese terms. China backed it’s messaging with menacing naval power especially in the South China Sea. In last one decade China has picked more territorial and maritime fights than it’s entire history of existence. It disputes Japanese claims over Senkaku islands; it has territorial disputes with Bhutan, Nepal and India; this apart from it’s claims on entire of Taiwan. Currently China has territorial and maritime disputes with half of it’s 20 neighbours and historically it has seldom been friendly to any of them!

China seems to pursue a three-pronged approach towards it’s security – dissuasion of US and it’s allies from coming closer to it’s stated territorial claims; maintaining adequate military pressure closer to Taiwan strait to back it’s routine threats, and ensure strong power projection beyond it’s maritime boundary. PLA Navy which carries bulk of this responsibility has been growing with an impressive array of strategic assets and has migrated from Green Water to a Blue Water Navy. It constitutes almost 350 surface ships and submarines, and has become the second largest naval force after the US.

As China pursued an expansionist approach it had shaken the delicate security balance in the region. Each of the Chinese confrontation underlined it’s growing ambitions garbed within bloated security concerns. However, the issues of national security is always relative to perceived environment and works equally for the parties involved. In China’s case this theory has taken a humongous shape. The list of perceived enemies for China has only grown and surely it would know, that each of those countries would also be seeing China No differently. China can continue claiming that – it’s actions are guided by it’s ‘national security concerns’, the same theory will hold good for all it’s professed enemies. China can take full credit for initiating this complimentary chaos.

Redrawing Strategies 

Not surprisingly, Chinese actions attracted attention of global powers as well, it took them some time to fathom Chinese agenda, but it did sink in. While China chooses to exploit vulnerable neighbours with it’s raw might, US played one smarter they militarised whole of China’s neighbourhood, partnered all it’s disgruntled neighbours and scaled up it’s military manoeuvres. All for ensuring globally accepted ‘rules-based order’ and ‘freedom of navigation’ is maintained. Surely Chinese are intelligent, they should reflect upon the situation, US and world’s most notable military alliance NATO is already standing next door. Flagship carriers of UK, France, Canada and Germany all major NATO powers patrolling the area for ensuring ‘freedom of navigation’. The regional security assessment suggests that probably Chinese have been tricked in underestimating the counter response and got comforted by the physical absence of a NATO flag!

Indian Navy is one of the region’s most powerful navy. It carries vast operational experience and fully understands Chinese tantrums. In recent years Indian Navy seems to be redrawing it’s strategies towards better control of waters around East extending to the Pacific and maintain it’s dominant presence in the West. It’s working to augment India’s flank with third indigenous aircraft carrier. As of now multiple destroyers, frigates, corvettes, conventional-powered and nuclear-powered submarines totaling around 45 are being indigenously developed. India has it’s plans ready to build a true Blue Water Navy by 2050 with more than 200 vessels and 500 aircrafts.

Preferred & Equal Partner

Indian Navy will likely have to work upon multiple footings simultaneously. It needs to enhance it’s visibility and reach towards East while further augmenting capabilities in the West. Acquisitions of new capabilities will be crucial, while the Navy has achieved substantial indigenisation it must also continue to pitch for high end foreign acquisitions. These assets would be tools for strategic autonomy and power projection. The security environment has undergone sea change in last one decade and Indian Navy should look to redefine it’s role as security fulcrum for Indo-Pacific.

India has been working actively with friends and partners in stabilising the security dynamics and new supply chains. This can only be possible if maritime routes remain safe and secure. Indian Navy must explore opportunities to further integrate with other like-minded regional and global powers operating in the region. Coordination for training and operation would considerably ease the burden of assets and improve upon surveillance, communication, logistics and domination a key factor for operational success. It’s time that Indian Navy must demonstratively be seen to be a viable force backed with capacity and resolve. It will enable India to become a “preferred & equal partner” in major multilateral security arrangements and strongly propagate India’s global vision!