Military of China, force comment.
Military of China, force comment.

data for: active virrat Indian Navy aircraft carrier data for: Russian aircraft carrier Gorshkov is being refurbished data for: Indian Navy fitted out in the Russian-made Kilo-class submarines

SONG Li-Wei Sun Ye Fei

open the world map in the bottom of the vast waters of the South Asian subcontinent is the third in the world oceans – the Indian Ocean. Unique geographical location makes it great power rivalry of the stage. The military has been seeking world power status, India is sparing no effort to expand their influence in the Indian Ocean. Indian diplomat Panikkar raised, “India’s safety lies in the Indian Ocean, Indian Ocean nation’s interest lies in the future also by the great Indian Ocean.” Because of this, since its establishment, to dominate the Indian Ocean has become India’s dream. However, in addition to relying on its own power, the United States and other Western powers of the military presence and rampant piracy in the “Indian Ocean” the dream has become more distant.

location surrounded by land into the Indian Ocean’s unique “land in the ocean”

Indian Ocean is so important, first of all due to its special location. Indian Ocean in Asia, Oceania, Africa and Antarctica surrounded by a total area of ??7,400 square kilometers, about the world’s oceans for 20% of the total area. The average ocean depth of more than 3800 meters north-south up to 10,460 km from east to west at its widest point 9655 km.

in the four oceans, the Arctic Ocean is very far from the heart of mainland China, the Pacific and the Atlantic Ocean through the Earth is like Ocean Avenue, north and south poles, the only land surrounded on three sides by the Indian Ocean.

Currently, around 47 Indian Ocean countries, including 36 countries can be direct access to the Indian Ocean. The region’s total population of the world’s population accounts for about 1/3, the strategic value of the self-evident.

from the edge of land overlooking the Indian Ocean, the east, west and south coast of steep flat surface, only the north and South Asia and the Middle East land phase of the winding coastline, which formed the edge of the sea and a number of important Bay. Among them, the north-west of the Red Sea in the north Arabian Sea, the northeast is the Andaman Sea. The main bay include the northwest Gulf of Aden, the Persian Gulf and the north of the Bay of Bengal. Currently, the marginal sea and the Gulf countries has become a land stretching an important frontier of its sea power, sea power is a big country the best springboard for invasion of the mainland.

In addition, the Indian special strategic position is also reflected in its hold more than one critical Strait.

British naval commanders had to Dover, Strait of Gibraltar, the Suez Canal, the Malacca Strait and Cape likened to “lock the world’s five keys.” In the five keys in the Indian Ocean on the control of the three.

Malacca Strait is the eastern gateway to the East Asian countries in the Middle East routes Achilles heel, the narrowest point only 37 km and can easily be controlled. Northwest of the Suez Canal to the Mediterranean’s throat in the Middle East, the Middle East during the war closed the Suez Canal to the West sea trade brought great losses, demonstrating its important geographic value. Cape of Good Hope is the gateway to the giant ships from the Americas Middle East, Far East and Oceania, an important channel. In addition, due to the Persian Gulf oil exports from 90 percent out of the Strait of Hormuz, and Peter Strait connecting Europe, Asia, and Africa maritime traffic arteries, and thereby the two Strait’s strategic position quietly rising.

In addition, the Indian Ocean also distributed the three north-south string of island chains: the western Suo Kela Island, Madagascar, Seychelles; central Mubarak on behalf of the husband Islands, Maldives, Sri Lanka and the eastern islands Andaman Islands, Nicobar Islands, Sumatra. Since these islands are very close to the continental shelf, its security depends on military land power and sea power power support and protection. Therefore, most of the strategic value of the island has been transformed into an important naval port and air base.

important sea route for oil resources in the Indian Ocean into the intersection zone

rich oil reserves in the Persian Gulf region is in many developed and developing economies and military development of the “blood”, and the Indian Ocean under the control of maritime oil transport route is a gateway to the East, the Western world’s “energy artery.” According to statistics, every year the Indian Ocean to bear 50% of the world container cargo and 70% of petroleum products transportation, transportation of oil through the Indian Ocean, the world’s offshore oil transport volume of more than half.

from the West into the Indian Ocean there are two major sea routes, namely the “Suez route” and “Cape of Good Hope route.” Suez route from Western Europe, North America via the Suez Canal into the Indian Ocean, Persian Gulf, is to connect Western Europe to the Indian Ocean region last energy channel. Since 1869 the Suez Canal has been completed, from Europe and North America to shorten the route into the Indian Ocean more than 1,000 nautical miles. Cape of Good Hope route is the southern tip of the African continent out of the Indian Ocean maritime lifeline, especially for American States, transporting oil and other strategic materials, the Cape of Good Hope route can be described as the first choice.

from the east into the Indian Ocean route when the number of the most important route of Malacca, which is the most convenient between the Pacific and Indian Ocean sea lanes. About 90% of Japan’s oil needs from the transportation route through. For the United States, in the wars launched by the Indian Ocean, the Malacca Straits to the United States naval forces of the fast delivery and strong logistical support plays an important role. Access channel and the Indian Ocean, the Strait offshore oil have become a world power and the focal point of attention, not only on geographic factors, more power comes from the land and sea power, the country’s geopolitical interests of the countries of the dispute.

First, look at the northern Indian Ocean, from the Red Sea through the Arabian Peninsula, Persian Gulf, the Iranian plateau, the Indian subcontinent, Indochina and the Malay Peninsula until the formation of an arc of the Straits of Malacca, this arc strategic areas is the connection between the hinterland and the only link between the Indian Ocean. Who controls the arc, not only means that control of the Indian Ocean sea lanes, and also marked the opening of the door leading to the interior of Eurasia. 19th century British Indian Ocean sea lanes through the establishment of the East India Company in India, and then control the entire subcontinent. Therefore, land-sea power with state power conflicts disputes, to varying degrees, this piece appears to map to a calm sea.

Second, in strategic areas in the arc, has not a dominant world power. On the contrary, the years of war in some countries in the anarchy, leading to rampant piracy. Therefore, countries have to put military forces to maintain sea lanes open.

Thirdly, from a resource perspective, the Indian Ocean, Persian Gulf and the surrounding sea is the world’s leading land-based oil and gas storage areas. So far, the Persian Gulf offshore oil reserves of about 12 billion tons of proven natural gas reserves of more than 7100 million square meters, oil and gas proven reserves of the Middle East accounted for 1/4.

large military presence in the country and limited strength so that the “Indian Ocean” dream come true

the Indian Ocean region has always been contested, strategically located very important. British Navy has long been circulating saying the words, “Who can get the Indian Ocean, who will be able to control the world.”

from the geographical point of view, highlighting the depth of the Indian subcontinent more than 1,000 miles, the waters of a northern Indian Ocean divided into two, namely the Indian peninsula, east and west sides of the Bay of Bengal and the Arabian Sea. Vast territorial seas and center in the Indian Ocean to India’s geopolitical position in the region play an important role. Especially the growth of overall national strength and control of naval power also makes India’s ambition continues to expand the Indian Ocean.

early 1940s, the father of India’s sea power Pangani proposed the so-called “steel ring theory”, that is in the circle to create a strong enough to defend the seas of the Navy, the India offshore into a safe area. At present, India to develop naval forces, the navy already has an aircraft carrier. The next few years, India will import from Russia retired “Admiral Gorshkov” aircraft carrier, plus the newly developed “Vikrant” aircraft carrier, then India may have three aircraft carrier battle groups into the Indian Ocean region .

Although India has a unique geographical advantage, but to truly realize the “Indian Ocean” strategy is still difficult.

First, the United States, control the Indian Ocean to the U.S. global strategy. From the perspective of terrorism, the United States control the Indian Ocean, makes it easier to transport anti-terrorism military power, cut off terrorist organizations maritime liaison channels, enhance the efficiency of counter-terrorism; to prevent the rise of great powers from the point of view, to grasp the Indian Ocean sea, Russia and other countries can play a major deterrent. Secondly, Russia, the control system of the Indian Ocean for its anti-American is more favorable. In addition, Japan recently by the problem of piracy, sending troops abroad to achieve, achieve in the Indian Ocean, “a piece” of the attempt.

To be sure, India is almost impossible to exclusive Indian Ocean, the calm sea of ??the Indian Ocean would continue simmering.