The sudden Chinese interest in the Indian Ocean region is not without a purpose.

With the

new laws governing the Chinese communist party and making Xi Jinping’s term for eternity

is no less than a psychological warfare determining the country’s extensive plans in the South

Asian region. India, on the other hand has been dealing with the Dragon’s aggressive attitude

which were seen in the recent Doklam standoff. Apart from the territorial disputes, the Sea is

an another arena which China wants to engage with. The IOR is no doubt a strategically

important region and a bone of contention among everyone, but the seeking power needs to

step in strategically and tactfully. India being in the proximity of the region still has not been

able to gain much due to its neglect and absence of any challenge from any other nation. But

with China’s tentacles sliding down the region, India has to keep close watch over every

course of action that may lead it to any regrets later. In order to give a response to China,

India must regroup the smaller economic nations, mostly who have suffered similarly due to

China’s illegal advances and claims such as Maldives, Sri Lanka and Myanmar. Recently

India and Japan have joined hands together against growing China’s provocativeness.

Military exercises such as Malabar, Development of Asian Development Bank and Indo-

Japan venture of Asian-African corridor as to counter China’s BRI and String of Pearls has

given some definitions to the limit the growing influence. It requires much more effort than it

is at present. Firstly India needs to frame a strong naval maritime power so as to keep a check

any Chinese activities and establish intelligence and operational bases all along the

archipelagos such as the Andaman and Lakshadweep. Further it needs to nurture strong

political and economic ties with the neighbouring nations to develop strong maritime

network. It will not only build an image of the nation among its peers but also establish it in

the role of Big brother which China is trying to fill into. Japanese investment in India’s

upcoming strategic road project in the latter’s North-East region will help increase India-

South-East Asia trade. There is a possibility that growing India-South-East Asia trade could
reduce China’s influence in South-East Asia. It is high time that India should look into its

matters in detail so as to resist Dragon reach at its doorsteps and that can only be done to

execute proactive measures to maintain the region’s stability and security through Indian

foothold.