Indian Defense Ministry report had warned of the “grave threat” posed by the Chinese navy in the Indian Ocean. It suggested that China is widening its orbit of patrols beyond Chinese waters to jockey for control of highly sensitive sea lanes. In mid-2016, Indian naval officials said they were sighting Chinese subs four times every three months on average. Some are seen near India’s Andamans and Nicobar Islands that lie near the Malacca Straits, the entry to the South China Sea through which more than 80 percent of China’s fuel supplies pass. The Indian Navy has tracked at least six Chinese submarines in the IOR, with an operational turn-around stop mainly at Karachi, over the last four years, as was earlier reported by TOI. To operate in the Indian Ocean, Chinese submarines need to sail through either the Malacca, Lombok or Sunda Straits where the shallow depth of the waters international regulations mean that they have to remain surfaced or visible.
The presence of Chinese nuclear attack submarines in the Indian Ocean reinforces Beijing’s aggression in competing with India for dominance in a region strategically vital to India’s security. History has time and again highlighted the importance of islands in establishing naval dominance. Given their close proximity to the Malacca Straits and Southeast Asia, the Andaman and Nicobar Islands have always been strategically important. Busy shipping routes such as the Ten Degree Channel are remarkably close to the islands. About 1,20,000 ships pass through the Indian Ocean each year and nearly 70,000 of them pass through the Malacca Strait.
Located as it is, the island chain acts as a physical barrier that secures busy Sea Lines of Communications by creating a series of chokepoints: The Preparis Channel in the north, the Ten Degree Channel between the Andaman and Nicobar island groups and the Six Degree Channel to the south. While the first two sea lanes are used infrequently by commercial shipping, all vessels that pass through the Malacca Strait must traverse the Six Degree Channel.
The ongoing border conflict between India and PLA troops is making New Delhi re-evaluate Andaman and Nicobar Island’s role as India’s critical military base that overlooks China’s vital sea lanes. These “choke points” of China can be quickly blocked, if required, by Indian warships and aircraft operating from the Andamans, writes experts. The Strait of Malacca is the lifeline of China, and if India along with regional allies especially the US can restraint the vital shipping lane, China will be left high and dry. China realises that and that is the reason why Beijing is investing billions of dollars in the CPEC project, to open land route via Pakistan which is now also under threat due to the border clashes. China is building $46-billion China-Pakistan Economic Corridor (CPEC) that will give Beijing access to the Indian Ocean through Gwadar besides running through Pakistan-occupied Kashmir.
India is now looking to fast-track plans for basing additional military forces in the strategically-located Andaman & Nicobar archipelago, along with the requisite development of infrastructure, as an effective counter to China’s expanding strategic presence in the Indian Ocean. A per latest reports by Time of India, India is working to fasten plans for deploying additional defence personnel in Andaman & Nicobar Islands and boosting infrastructure to counter China’s growing presence in the Indian Ocean Region while getting prepared for any possible clash.
Indian Air Force opened a new airbase at Thanjvur in southern state of Tamil Nadu in Jan 2020. The IAF has deployed its most modern combat jet Sukhoi 30 MKI at the newly opened airbase, with aim to counter growing Chinese presence in Indian Ocean region and Malacca straits and boost the safety of peninsular India. Sukhoi 30 MKI has a range of 1,500 kilometers without mid-air refueling and with the IL 78 tankers they can loiter and cover a big part of Indian Ocean and Malacca Strait.The Sukhoi fighters are equipped with lethal Brahmos missiles that have a range of 300 kilometers, providing enough punch to the force to deter any adversary in the aerial and maritime domains.
IAF Chief RKS Bhadauria said Thanjavur airbase was chosen for deployment of Thanjavur airbase because of its strategic location. Thanjavur Airbase is less than 150 kilometers from the northern most point of Sri Lanka and about 1,500 kilometers from Andaman and Nicobar Islands, the home to India’s first tri-services command that is located between the Bay of Bengal and Andaman Sea, giving the country ability to monitor traffic passing through Malacca Strait.
The Indian government has approved 56 ships and submarines. Some of these will replace the existing fleet and include new ships like fleet ships, submarines, and mine sweepers,” Admiral Lanba stated. Admiral Lanba said the construction plan would take a decade. The 56 ships would be in addition to the 32 ships and submarines currently under construction.
India is seeking out collaborations, not just for strategic reasons, but also to bolster the development of “smart islands” — a concept that looks to develop a sustainable model for islands catered toward generating islands’ economies and protecting their unique biodiversity.
While the Andaman and Nicobar Islands have tremendous strategic value, India also recognizes the need to develop them commercially. Moreover, given the islands’ environmental and tribal welfare constraints and concerns, the only practical solution is to develop them in a sustainable manner, to the point that they have their own independent economy.
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