China’s Maritime Relations with South Asia: From Confrontation to Co-operation (Part One)
Y. J. Sithara N. Fernando, China’s Maritime Relations with South Asia: From Confrontation to Co-operation (Part One), Future Analysis Paper, Strategic Directions International, 24 November 2010.
This two-part Strategic Analysis Paper will examine China’s maritime relations with South Asia since it adopted its policy of “opening up to the outside world” in 1978. It identifies the place occupied by the Indian Ocean and South Asia in China’s maritime strategy, and then identifies the appropriate means of dealing with global and regional maritime security concerns regarding China’s maritime strategy – including the so-called “string of pearls” theory – as far as those regions are concerned. Part One of this paper:
• Lays the outline of a general framework for analysing the maritime dimension of
international relations;
• Analyses China’s maritime strategy; and
• Establishes the importance of the Indian Ocean and South Asia to China and
analyses the issues arising from it.
Part Two will:
• Examine maritime co-operation in the Indian Ocean and South Asia; and
• Examine China’s participation in global and regional maritime co-operation. …
