The Strategic Signal Of An Indian Presence In The South China Sea

Context: India’s naval manoeuvres in South China sea annoy China but such bold signalling plays a role in safeguarding national interests.

Background: Recently, Indian Navy made its presence felt in the waters of South China Sea when a task force of four warships sailed on a two-month deployment that included Malabar 2021 naval exercises with India’s Quad partners, United States, Japan and Australia, and bilateral exercises with naval forces from South China Sea littoral states, including Singapore, Vietnam, Indonesia and the Philippines.

Underlying strategic message behind India’s actions in the South China Sea: 

• A new signalling in Indo-China relations: This remarks a strategic shift from India’s position as a country unwilling to challenge the status quo. An aftermath of border clash and continuing tensions along the Line of Actual Control (LAC).
• Leveraging strategic space in India’s engagements in South China sea: 
  • As there are sovereignty disputes between China and several ASEAN member countries, including Vietnam, the Philippines and Brunei.
  • China pursued its aggressive stance ignoring all maritime norms, by construction of artificial islands heavily fortified with missiles, runways and weapon systems.
• South China sea remains critical to Indian interests:
  • 55% of India’s trade with Indo-Pacific region passes through these waters.
  • India’s interest is primarily to keep the region’s trade routes safe and secure, thereby helping uphold regional stability and freedom of navigation.
  • India has been pushing for a rules-based order in the region, including by means of upholding the United Nations Convention on the Law of the Sea.
• South China sea as the theatre of new global order: 
  • Amidst the fiasco in Afghanistan, America is also seeking a greater role for US partners and allies in the region as it challenges China’s drive for regional hegemony.
  • Thus, the idea of Indo-Pacific as single maritime zone is to further gain significance.

Conclusion: With China gaining greater operational control over disputed territories in South China Sea, the challenge for India is rising by the day, especially in eastern Indian Ocean. Ignoring this is not a sustainable option. Greater activism, both diplomatic and military, is needed and is beginning to shape up.