The Diplomat published on 3 December 2022 a paper titled "China's Emerging Subsurface Presence in the Indian Ocean" by Prakash Panneerselvam, India's National Institute of Advanced Studies.
The author notes that the PLA Navy in the Indian Ocean has been growing steadily since 2009. China's naval base in Djibouti, which opened in 2017, and the increasing presence of PLAN ships, submarines, and research vessels in the Indian Ocean is a call for greater concern in New Delhi. It not only challenges India's sphere of influence in the region but also raises the risk of security threats when Chinese vessels operate close to India's Exclusive Economic Zone.
