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Naval hotline
- As rising powers, China and India are building large and powerful naval forces.
- From the geographical perspective, India faces the Indian Ocean and China, the Pacific.
- the idea of a “hotline” — direct and dedicated telephone and fax links — between the two naval headquarters and other maritime CBMs are under political consideration in Delhi.
- If China warily watches India’s deepening naval cooperation with Japan, Vietnam and other Southeast Asian nations, India’s concerns about China’s rising profile in the Indian Ocean have become more acute in recent years.
- The Chinese navy’s anti-piracy operations in the Gulf of Aden since the end of 2008 have provided a perfect setting for Beijing to develop special relationships with some critical states in the Indian Ocean.
One particular target of opportunity has been Seychelles - the foreign minister of Seychelles, Jean-Paul Adam, said his government has invited China “to set up a military presence in Mahe to fight the pirate attacks that Seychelles faces on a regular basis”.
- The United States has a small facility to fly drones for anti-piracy operations. Russia has had longstanding defence contacts with the Seychelles. India too has stepped up its naval diplomacy with the Seychelles in recent years.
- The Omani ports of Muscat and Salalah have become major replenishment and resupply points for Chinese naval operations in the Gulf of Aden.
