India Unveils Submarine Base as Counter to China

 The South China Morning Post published on 13 April 2025 an article titled "India's New Submarine Base Targets China's Growing Sea Power" by Junaid Kathju.

India has unveiled a new state-of-the-art submarine base near Rambilli in the state of Andhra Pradesh in the Bay of Bengal.  It coincides with the introduction later this year of India's third nuclear-powered submarine.  These developments are occurring against the backdrop of escalating competition between New Delhi and Beijing for strategic influence in the Indian Ocean and broader Indo-Pacific region.

China Maps Indian Ocean for Submarine Warfare

 The Washington Post published on 10 January 2024 an article titled "Chinese PLA-linked Vessels Map the Indian Ocean for Submarine Warfare" by Cate Cadell.

The Indian Ocean is critical to China's strategic and economic interests, as well as its geopolitical rivalry with India.  Consequently, the Indian Ocean is fast becoming one of the biggest domains for Chinese oceanic surveys, which are ostensibly civilian in nature but tied to the People's Liberation Army and Beijing's military-civil fusion program -- a national strategic plan to advance China's military by acquiring technology and research from civilian groups.

India Concerned about China's Subsurface Presence in the Indian Ocean

 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.

China Seeking Military Base on Africa's Atlantic Coast?

 The Sandboxx blog of  Alex Hollings posted on 18 March 2022 a commentary titled "China Wants a Navy Base in Africa that Would Put America's East Coast in Reach."

The author makes a case why China may be interested in establishing a naval base on Africa's Atlantic Coast.