Chinese Maritime Interests in the Indian Ocean

 Sea Control posted on 24 March 2024 a 27-minute podcast titled "Chinese Maritime Interests in the Indian Ocean with Commodore Venugopal Vengalil" hosted by Nathan Miller.  

This conversation with retired Indian Commodore Vengalil, a member of the Chennai Centre for China Studies, took place on 5 February.  He reviews the history during the 21st century of the PLA Navy's shift from an exclusive near sea focus to a significant interest in the far seas and the need to protect China's interests throughout the Belt and Road Initiative region.

Commodore Vengalil discusses the challenges, especially the long line of communications, for the PLAN in the Indian Ocean to exercise sea control with questionable ability to access ports during hostilities.  He analyzes the capability of the Chinese fleet, which is large but with significant handicaps that limit its ability to project power.  

His remarks are based on a paper published by the Chennai Centre for China Studies on 2 December 2023 and titled "Assessment of Chinese Maritime Interests in Indian Ocean Region."

China Is Growing Warship Supplier for Sub-Saharan Africa

 The International Institute for Strategic Studies published on 21 July 2023 an analysis titled "China a Growing Port of Call for African Naval Expansion" by Johannes R. Fischbach.  

The total number of active Sub-Saharan Africa surface combatants has almost tripled since 2008.  The region now counts 420 such vessels, up from 158 in 2008.  Most of the recently arrived vessels are patrol and coastal combatants.  

China has seen its market share of vessels supplied to the region rise from 9 percent in 2008 to 16 percent in 2023, making it the second largest supplier after Singapore.  

Update on Somali Piracy

Oceans Beyond Piracy recently published two short pieces dealing with piracy off Somalia.  The first is titled "Prisoner Survey Notes International Naval Presence as the Primary Deterrent to Pirates."  It reports, based on a survey of Somali prisoners, that the international naval presence in the Gulf of Aden was the major deterrent to a continuation of piracy.

The second item is titled "Will Illegal Fishing Ignite a Preventable Resurgence of Somali Piracy?"  It reports the seizing off Somalia of two Iranian-owned fishing vessels in March 2015 and asks if the resumption of illegal fishing in Somali waters will cause a resumption of Somali piracy.

China-India Rivalry in the Indian Ocean

Sunset over the Indian Ocean. Flickr/NASA's Marshall Space Flight Center

The Associated Press released an article by Lousie Watt on 8 May 2013 titled "China and India's Rivalry Extends to the Arctic." The article includes my comments on China-India rivalry in the western Indian Ocean.