China ups the ante with Chabahar push

Excellent study material for all civil services aspirants - begin learning - Kar ke dikhayenge!

China ups the ante with Chabahar push

---

Read more on - Polity | Economy | Schemes | S&T | Environment

---

• Iran-China relation: The Foreign Minister of Iran said recently that China wanted a role in the Chabahar project. He was merely nudging India as a reminder of China's arrival in Iran. What does it really mean for India?
• Geopolitical challenge: One may see this as the Chinese Communist Party's major breakthrough in Iran, which always was friendly to India. The CPC is posing a whole net set of challenges to India, that are long-term in nature. 

1. The India-Iran Chabahar port was India's answer to the CPEC's fulcrum, the Gwadar port in Pakistan. 
2. Can India continue the power play beyond South Asia, is the question now.
3. India will have to rethink its entire naval strategy now, something it was weak at, for centuries.

• Iran's latest stance: It clarified that Iran wasn't against China, and the Chabahar port wasn't an answer to anything else. He wanted to reassure both Pakistan and China, but missed out on reassuring India. Actually, Chabahar is a late addition to China's ambitions in Iran. Perhaps, should not have stopped Iranian oil imports in 2019, on US's pressure.
• China's moment: That surrender of India, in a bilateral relationship, to a third country (the US), was the opening China was waiting for. It wanted a long-term fuel supply at favourable rates. So both China and Iran came close, on the Chabahar issue too. India may be now a step behind in the Persian Gulf region.
• Why Chabahar: The region near it is home to the world's 70% proven oil, and 40% of gas reserves. Iran, just one country, connects Eurasia, South Asia, western China, arc of the Sunni world with the Indian Ocean, via the Persian Gulf. 

1. So the Chinese are playing on a "sea sense" of forward deployment. The eastern and southern flanks of China Sea are seeing a lot of tension, and China is opening a new, fresh frontier. 
2. China now has a 365 nautical miles east-west coastline for its vessels (navy, mercantile and fishing). How 365 nm - 289 nm of Karachi-Gwadar stretch plus 76 nm of Iran-Pakistan Chabahar-Gwadar connect.

• Historical reference: The British had forward deployed at the peak of their empire-building, and the Americans commanded the high seas through the 20th century. The Chabahar game of China is primarily for economics, but won't be so, for long.
• What China is attempting: It's not just countering India there, but is putting a foothold inside the US Central Command territorial jurisdiction (HQ: Florida). Chinese have Djibouti, and are working on an expanding naval armada.
• Problems of US: Its navy is no longer what it used to be, and in West Pacific, the gap between strategy and resources is strong. China is using this weakness, while opening a new front.

1. China now has 350 combat ships, against US's 300.
2. With three ports (Karachi, Gwadar, Chabahar) in one line, China has laid the foundation for many options in a multi-front crisis.
3. China is avoiding the turbulent Indian Ocean - Singapore Strait - Pacific Ocean sealane, through this.

• Summary: India needs to factor in these emerging issues, and devise its future strategy accordingly.

Read more on - Polity | Economy | Schemes | S&T | Environment

Join UPSC Self Prep course | Online Course (PT Gurukul)  | Covid Special Course | Join PT courses

* Content sourced from free internet sources (publications, PIB site, international sites, etc.). Take your own subscriptions. Copyrights acknowledged.