Contemporary Assessment of the United States and China Naval Vision for the Indian Ocean Region (IOR)

• Published date: 01 May 2021
• Author: W. Fernald Lloyd,Azeem Gul,Riaz Ahmad
• Date: 01 May 2021
• DOI: http://doi.org/10.1002/pa.2573

COMMENTARY

Contemporary Assessment of the United States and China

Naval Vision for the Indian Ocean Region (IOR)

W. Fernald Lloyd

1,2

| Azeem Gul

3

| Riaz Ahmad

4

1

Dean of Graduate Studies, Orlando

University, Orlando, FL

2

Management Department, College of

Business, University of Central Florida,

Orlando, FL

3

Lecturer in the Department of International

Relations, Muslim Youth University, Islamabad

and PhD scholar at Quaid-i-Azam University,

Islamabad., 40, Islamabad, Pakistan

4

School of Public Policy and Administration,

Xi'ian Jiaotong University, Xi'an, Shaanxi,

China

Correspondence

W. Fernald Lloyd, Dean of Graduate Studies,

Orlando University, 11325 Lake Underhill

Road, Suite 102, Orlando, FL 32825, Professor

Emeritus, Management Department, College

of Business, University of Central Florida,

P.O. Box 161400, Orlando, FL 32816-1400.

This article initially explores how China shapes its modern naval presence in the

Indian Ocean Region (IOR), while sustaining a world-wide economic reach. Attention

is drawn to sea power as an integral component of national development and global

influence. Second, it discusses the United States and India engagement in the IOR

because of China's increasing demand for energy. The latter has resulted in the Peo-

ple's Liberation Army advancement of navigation around the Hormuz and Malacca

Straits. Third, it reviews India and Japan's territorial rivalries, which are used by the

United States to watch Beijing's emerging power around the Islands, seas, and checks

points. Finally, the article shows how political leaders shape sea power as part of

their national power.

1|INTRODUCTION

China has carefully observed what has occurred in the IOR since the

quadrilateral security dialogues, called Quad. Quad includes the

United States, India, Japan, and Australia. Beijing has developed simi-

lar maritime frameworks to strengthen the People's Liberation Navy

into the Western Pacific. China, the United States, and its key strate-

gic partners, have long been enmeshed with the geostrategic and geo-

political dynamics in the area. Examples include India's continuing

border war, started in 1962, Washington's fears about China's activi-

ties in the South China Sea (SCS) and Japan's rivalry over the South

Pacific islands. This concern has led to a new view about China's com-

petition with the United States, Japan, and India over the control of

the IOR. It is exacerbated by maritime choke points considered as vital

according to maritime strategists. These points include the small

Malacca region in the East, the narrow strip of Hormuz in the West

and Bal el-Mandebin in the IOR.

In the import and export of goods from one region to another,

states have been dependent on the sea since the birth of shipping

systems. Ships navigate on the routes at sea because they are

cheaper economically than land routes. Modern studies on sea

routes have identified many vital security points such as Malacca

and Hormuz.

“Whoever is lord of Malacca has his hand on the throat

of Venice.”“If the world is an egg, Hormuz would be

its yolk.”(Kaplan, 2009, pp.19-20)

The marine choke point of Malacca has become a vital strategic

component because of its capacity to allow trading activity. More

than 40 % of items of strategic significance pass through its channel

daily. Forty percent of the crude oil trade passes through Hormuz.

The increased demand of oil imports through these points is the result

of increasing consumption both in China and India. Records show that

both India and China have increased energy consumption from 2006

to 2030 by 45 % (Kaplan, 2009).

2|REVIEW OF THE LITERATURE

2.1 |The strategic significance of the Indian Ocean

Each day, 32.2 barre ls of crude oil pass th rough the Indian Ocea n,

which makes up 50% of the m aritime oil trade. T he Indian Ocean

itself produces 40% of the world's offshore petroleum. Its coasts

are rich in minerals, wh ich are used for domest ic consumption.

The Indian Ocean is impor tant strategically f or many major powers

Received: 27 November 2020 Accepted: 27 November 2020

DOI: 10.1002/pa.2573

J Public Affairs. 2021;21:e2573. wileyonlinelibrary.com/journal/pa © 2021 John Wiley & Sons, Ltd 1of6

https://doi.org/10.1002/pa.2573