India’s Maritime Strategy Against China’s String of Pearls

China’s growing operations in the Indian Ocean Region (IOR) within the Indo-Pacific poses a major threat to India’s maritime security. In light of China’s increasing dominance in the Indian Ocean Region, how can India utilize its maritime doctrine to effectively counterbalance this influence? 

It's the need of the hour to safeguard our strategic interests in the region. China’s increasing maritime footprint in the IOR through economic corridors as its key for economic development in recent times provides it with direct access to the Bay of Bengal, Andaman and Nicobar and other parts of the Indian ocean, has intensified India’s insecurity. 

Around India’s 95% trade passes through shipping routes, in this regard the maritime domain has been a crucial factor in economic stability and shaping the border security policies. China’s presence in IOR reflects the importance of the ocean to Beijing’s maritime ambitions. The main “Pearls” (ports) of China’s String of Pearls Strategy network in the IOR are Gwadar (Pakistan), Hambantota (Sri Lanka), Chittagong (Bangladesh) and Kyaukpyu (Myanmar) and in Maldives, where China’s expanded control and strategic influence over these major ports of Indo-Pacific region where it holds over 70% stake serve both economic and geopolitical objectives under China’s Belt and Road Initiative(BRI) and Maritime Silk Road(MSR) through investments, ownership stakes and operational management. The Sino-Indian security dilemma is further aggravated by China's military alliance with the littoral countries and its attempts to build politico-military partnerships. As Geopolitical currents shift in the Indo-Pacific, India needs to adopt an assertive maritime posture to safeguard its interests in a region fraught with strategic competition. Balancing China's rise is an important constituent of India’s strategic behaviour.

Fortifying India’s Naval Power: Creating a Security Dilemma

As the only country after which a major ocean is named, India views the Indian Ocean Region as central to its strategic interests and actively contributes to regional maritime security and cooperation. To safeguard its interests, India must align its maritime security policies with regional priorities and make sustained efforts on multiple fronts. Fiscal shortages, however, often hinder the timely acquisition of critical equipment. To address this, India should explore creative financing mechanisms, strengthen bilateral agreements, and leverage Public–Private Partnerships to bridge financial gaps. India has recorded its highest-ever growth in indigenous defence production in value terms during the Financial Year (FY) 2023-24, fueled by the effective implementation of government policies and initiatives. Defence production has reached a record Rs. 1,27,434 crores, marking a remarkable 174% increase from Rs. 46,429 crores in 2014-15. Increased investments on Ballistic missile submarine (SSBN), Nuclear-powered attack submarines (SSN), Vikrant-class, INS Vishal and other Destroyers, Frigates and other ships would transform the naval capabilities. Further enhancing maritime domain awareness through satellite reconnaissance, unmanned systems, and advanced surveillance technologies remains central to India’s strategy. At the same time, closer collaboration with global defence producers and suppliers can significantly improve the efficiency of the procurement process. Over the past few decades, the Indian Navy has already witnessed considerable modernization in line with national policy priorities, and continued reforms will be vital to maintaining momentum. The Indian Navy is committed to overall maritime security, including coastal and offshore security. Manufacturing modern warships, fighter jets, artillery systems and cutting edge weaponry being built within the country, India now aims to be a key player in the global defence manufacturing landscape.

Currently, strategic policies and indigenous innovation have substantially reduced dependence on foreign suppliers. India is advancing cutting-edge military platforms, bolstering both national security and economic growth. Improved India’s potential maritime strategy in military deployment of navy in the sensitive areas of Indian Ocean Region (IOR), control over the ports and possessing advanced equipment creates the security dilemma for the Chinese ports in the littoral nations in the Indo-Pacific region. The nations in the Indo-Pacific region have experienced direct pressure stemming from China’s hegemonic ambitions. Under this circumstance India needs to take advantage of building up research and development in the Indian maritime domain.

Strategic Partnerships as a Pillar

India’s strategic partnerships and diplomatic alignments play a pivotal role in addressing emerging geopolitical challenges in the Indo-Pacific. Upholding its sovereignty and territorial integrity, India envisions the Indo-Pacific as a free, open, inclusive, peaceful, and prosperous region governed by rules aligned with the international order. This vision is articulated through India’s Free, Open, and Inclusive Indo-Pacific (FOIIP) framework, expressed via its maritime security initiative SAGAR (Security and Growth for All in the Region), launched in 2015 by Prime Minister Narendra Modi. SAGAR aims to position New Delhi as a ‘net security provider’ in the Indian Ocean Region, pursuing a dual objective: countering the China-led Maritime Silk Road under the Belt and Road Initiative (BRI) and advancing the 2015 Act East Policy to strengthen ties with East Asia, while promoting mutually beneficial blue economy connectivity with India’s maritime neighbours.

 India’s strategic move towards conducting naval exercises with littoral IOR island nations through the provision of training, capacity building, equipment and navies of QUAD comprising of US, Japan, Australia, Initiatives like Indo-Pacific Partnership for Maritime Domain Awareness (IPMDA) and Maritime Initiative for Training in the Indo-Pacific (MAITRI) and the Singapore-India Maritime Bilateral Exercise (SIMBEX) could inadvertently create a security dilemma for China, as Beijing may perceive them as an attempt to contain its influence. Since December 2024 the Indian Navy and Coast Guard has held bilateral exercises with Madagascar, Mauritius, the Seychelles and Sri Lanka, following a trilateral exercise held with Sri Lanka and the Maldives in February 2024.  Reflecting India’s expanded strategic outlook, the Prime Minister of India unveiled the MAHASAGAR doctrine — ‘Mutual and Holistic Advancement for Security and Growth Across Regions’ — in March 2025 in Mauritius. As an extension of the SAGAR doctrine, MAHASAGAR broadens India’s engagement to encompass the wider Global South. The vision provides a strategic framework for India to enhance its role in the security and stability of the Indian Ocean Region (IOR) and the South China Sea (SCS), fostering robust maritime cooperation with countries across the western Indian Ocean and Africa as part of India’s emergence as a rising power.