A Contest of Status and Legitimacy in the Indian Ocean

This chapter examines Indian and Chinese perspectives of each other as major powers and their respective roles in the Indian Ocean. It focuses on the following elements: (a) Chinas strategic imperatives in the Indian Ocean Region, (b) Indias views on its special role in the Indian Ocean and the legitimacy of the presence of other powers, (c) Chinas strategic vulnerabilities in the Indian Ocean and Indias wish to leverage those vulnerabilities, (d) the asymmetry in Indian and Chinese threat perceptions, and (d) Chinese perspectives of the status of India in the international system and Indias claims to a special role in the Indian Ocean. The chapter concludes that even if China were to take a more transparent approach to its activities, significant differences in perceptions of threat and over status and legitimacy will produce a highly competitive dynamic between them in the maritime domain.