NEW
DELHI: Alarm bells are ringing afresh in the Indian security
establishment over renewed efforts by China to expand its footprint in
Maldives, even as New Delhi and Beijing continue with their strategic shadow-boxing all across the Indian Ocean Region (IOR).
With China poised to establish a full-fledged embassy at Maldives,
strategically located southwest of India astride major sea lanes in IOR,
officials say Beijing has stepped up its "lobbying'' to bag a couple or
more of crucial development projects in the 1,190-island archipelago.
China, in particular, seems interested in developing Ihavandhoo and
Maarandhoo Islands, with transhipment ports among other things, as well
as grabbing a piece of action in the development of the country's second
international airport at Hanimaadhoo.
"The islands in question
are located in the Haa Alif Atoll, situated in the north of Maldives.
China wants a presence in these islands since they are the closest to
India and Sri Lanka,'' said an official.
There have also been reports about Chinese plans to establish a naval
submarine base in Marao, an island of Maldives, but they have remained
shrouded in mystery.
China's efforts to make further inroads into Maldives have gained momentum after the visit of Wu Bangguo, the chairman of the standing committee of the Chinese National People's Congress, to Male in May.
China has for long being building maritime and other linkages with eastern Africa, Seychelles, Mauritius, Maldives, Sri Lanka, Bangladesh, Myanmar and Cambodia, among others. Pakistan has been a more-than-willing partner in all this, with the Gwadar deep-sea port being built with Chinese help in Baluchistan.
China's main aim is to ensure the security of its sea lanes
facilitating its critically-needed energy imports. But there is no
getting away from the fact that it also amounts to a virtual encircling
of India, in what is called the "string-of-pearls" construct.
Indian military brass' concerns about the "serious challenges" posed by
China's expanding footprint in IOR as well as South Asia, incidentally,
are expected to figure once again during the annual combined commanders'
conference to be addressed by PM Manmohan Singh on Tuesday.
India, too, has been taking steps to counter China's strategic moves by
stepping up its defence engagement with countries like Maldives, Mauritius
and Seychelles. After defence minister A K Antony's visit to Male in
August 2009, for instance, Indian warships and Dornier reconnaissance
aircraft are helping Maldives in maritime patrol and surveillance. New
Delhi is also assisting Male to set up a network of ground radars in all
its 26 atolls and link them with the Indian military surveillance
systems.
Earlier, apart from hydrographic surveys and other
military assistance, India had 'transferred' INS Tillanchang, a
260-tonne fast-attack craft designed for fast and covert operations
against smugglers, gun-runners and terrorists, to Maldives in 2006.
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