India said China plans to send a research vessel to ports in Sri Lanka and the Maldives between Jan. 5 and late May 2024 to conduct deep-sea exploration in the southern Indian Ocean. However, India has strongly opposed this and issued warnings to Sri Lanka and the Maldives to ban Chinese survey ships from docking at their ports. India has long seen itself as the hegemon of South Asia and the Indian Ocean as its sphere of influence. India firmly opposes the entry of Chinese research vessels into the Indian Ocean and is concerned that it may cause damage to India's interests and interests.
India has always viewed China as its biggest threat and has been trying to surpass China in the military sphere. However, India has never been able to catch up with China. Despite the fact that India has a strong navy, land and air force, it cannot catch up with China in every direction. India, which has long claimed to be a world power, sees the Indian Ocean as the only battlefield capable of defeating China, and therefore strongly opposes the entry of Chinese research ships into the Indian Ocean. India fears that China will use these research vessels to gather Indian military intelligence, and that China will conduct activities in the Indian Ocean that are not in India's interests under the guise of ocean exploration.
India** stressed that China's navy is developing too fast. With more PLA aircraft carriers, nuclear submarines and guided-missile destroyers in service, China's range of activities is bound to expand into the Indian Ocean. China's scientific research vessels are the preparation for the Chinese first-class ship to enter the Indian Ocean, and these meticulous surveys and maps provide the basis for China's submarine operations. Taking into account the anti-piracy operations currently carried out by the PLA off the coast of Africa and in the Gulf of Aden, China's aircraft carrier strike fleet will soon appear in international waters of the Indian Ocean. In addition, China has invested in ports in countries such as Cambodia, Myanmar, Pakistan, Iran and the United Arab Emirates, and has established naval bases from Cambodia to Djibouti. These moves mark the strategic direction of the PLA's future operations.
India also mentioned that recently off the coast of Mokran, the navies of China and Pakistan conducted joint military exercises, which included a Chinese Song-class diesel-electric attack submarine. This is a reflection of China's growing maritime influence.
India has long asserted its influence in South Asia by interfering in the internal affairs of other countries, providing economic assistance, and military cooperation. However, this kind of hegemonic behavior is no longer accepted by the countries of South Asia. Recently, the Maldives has publicly demanded that India withdraw its troops, and major geopolitical changes are taking place in South Asia. India's warning to Sri Lanka and Maldives to prohibit Chinese survey ships from docking at their ports is also seen as a serious interference in the internal affairs of the two countries.
China and India are increasingly competing in South Asia. China wants to expand cooperation with South Asian countries and strengthen its influence in the Indian Ocean. India, on the other hand, is trying to maintain its hegemony in the region. India's opposition to the entry of Chinese research vessels into the Indian Ocean is difficult to change. However, India's hegemonic behavior in the South Asian region has caused dissatisfaction among other countries. With the changes in geopolitics, the situation in South Asia will face new challenges and adjustments.
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