Col J P Singh, Retd
With China on his mind, Indian Premier ambitiously embarked upon three Island nation tour beginning March 10th from Seychelles and finishing in Sri Lanka on 14th testifying this region’s importance for Indian security. It has become a significant state visit because it articulates New Delhi’s quest for oceanic influence in the Indian Ocean. The intention was to re-structure maritime security and defence cooperation with the littoral states. It has been a long-standing Indian desire to ensure that the Indian Ocean strategically remains India’s ocean. All the 30 odd coastal and island nations of Indian Ocean are crucial to India’s security but these three are a little more important because of their strategic proximity. Ironically the region remained diplomatically neglected for decades by successive Delhi govts. Indira Gandhi had visited Seychelles 34 years ago, while Rajiv Gandhi was the last Prime Minister to visit Sri Lanka 28 years back. This Govt’s quest for oceanic influence means that India creates such environments in her immediate backyard that it remains safe and secure for all our nation’s interests. It does not however mean military domination or control of the ocean like China in South China Sea. According to Pt Nehru, “history has shown that whosoever controls Indian Ocean, has not only India’s sea borne trade at his mercy but also India’s very independence”. Ironically not understood by his own party’s successive govts. That makes Modi’s three nation visit historic. It is for the first time that Indian ocean, stretching from Australia to Oman and Mozambique, is being seen as Indian entity; being the only ocean in the world named after a country.
China has fully exploited Indian absence in the region economically and militarily. India’s loss became China’s strategic gain. Chinese military presence was seen last years when it docked two nuclear submarines in their newly built Colombo Harbour. China has also taken over operational control of Gwadar Port she built in Pakistan. A lot is known about Chinese growing footprints in Indian Ocean.
It is often said that if India cannot manage its neighborhood, it can’t claim any larger global role. Prime Minister, having started with presence of SAARC leaders in his swearing in, this time has made Indian intentions clear by visiting three Southern Nations that it will like to engage with the neighborhood to checkmate China’s clout and India encirclement. His intentions are clear to the extent that littoral states consult India about any major strategic decision that they might take in their national interest. For the rest of the world the message is that India should always be factored into every future regional and global oceanic security structure.
Today Indian Ocean is of greater concern because Indian trade and energy supply through Indian Ocean maritime links has enormously grown and so has the threat from Somali Pirates. Hence our energy jugular vein is threatened in the Indian Ocean. Moreover China has registered its strategic influence all across the region through its ‘string of pearls’. China is speedily making huge infrastructure projects in the Indian Ocean region. India’s aid projects, if any, are renowned for endless delays and broken promises. India’s inability to provide military hardware to neighbouring countries has allowed China to be the major military hardware supplier. But what damages New Delhi’s oceanic interest the most is a widespread sense that India has no maritime strategy, only an intermittent political interests in the littoral states and general lack of concern about its own strategically so important an ocean. If India were to become a regional power and have an emphatic say in global affairs, it will have to maximise strategic gains of the maritime front. India so far is fixated to its disputed land borders forgetting the fact that it is a great maritime country with vast maritime front. Increasing oceanic influence in own ocean is pivotal to India’s security which is only possible with the cooperation of these neighbors.
To prevent military encirclement, India needs to interdict Chinese dominance astride vital sea lanes of communication including China’s quest for opening ‘maritime silk route’. 80 percent of China’s oil imports pass through ‘Malacca Strait’. Having interdiction capability would allow Indian Navy to dominate key maritime routes and help change Chinese military posturing on the Northern LAC. China’s growing military influence in Seychelles, Mauritius, Sri Lanka, and Maldives makes these island nations as potential resupply ports for China’s naval ships which needs to be checkmated.
PM’s first stop was at Seychelles, a small Archipelago of over 90 thousand people. After detailed talks with President James Alex Michel, four maritime cooperation pacts were singed. Both agreed to establish a ‘Joint Working Group’ to expand cooperation on ‘blue economy’. The agreements signed include (i) cooperation in hydrographic survey (ii) cooperation in renewable energy (iii) development of infrastructure and (iv) development of electronic navigational charts. Indian premier also launched ‘coastal surveillance radar project’ to keep watch on their coastline, exclusive economic zone and to combat piracy.
The next stop was Mauritius as chief guest in their National Day celebrations on 12th March. Mauritius is called ‘Chhota Bharat’ because of its Indianess and time tested relationship. In its population of one million, 90 percent are of Indian origin. In Mauritius Prime Minister commissioned an Indian built patrol vessel. Calling Indian Ocean region economy as ‘blue economy’; Prime Minister stated that blue economy is as sacred to India as ‘blue chakra’ in our national flag; a rebuttal to China’s quest for economic footprints.
The last stop was Sri Lanka which was path-breaking in many ways. The rehabilitation of displaced Tamil and devolution of political powers had become a long standing irritant in bilateral ties. But the new leaders of both countries have resolved to adopt a fresh approach to strengthen ties. Prime Minister tried his best to scotch the deep rooted suspicion about the so called hidden Tamil agenda in its policy towards Sri Lanka and urged President Srisena to implement 13th Amendment. He emphasized that fishermen issue is a livelihood issue, not transgression. He said he will be happy if India acts as catalyst in the progress of Sri Lanka. Aimed at undercutting Chinese influence in Sri Lanka, PM offered first claim on growing Indian economy to Sri Lanka. Both countries being at the cross roads of Indian Ocean can achieve common goals by working together in an atmosphere of trust and confidence, he reiterated.
India and Sri Lanka signed four agreement related to Visa, Customs, Youth development and building Rabinranath Tagore Auditorium in Sri Lanka. He offered help to make Trincomalee a petroleum hub and announced a credit of $ 318 millions for the development of Railways to connect war ravaged Jaffna with Colombo and also agreed to swap $ 1.5 billions to stabilize Sri Lankan rupee. Visa on arrival for Sri Lankan citizens was announced from 14 April 2015. PM also announced that India stands with Sri Lanka in its efforts to build a future that accommodates the aspirations of all sections of society including Tamils for a life of equality, justice, peace and dignity in a united Sri Lanka; which means a lot for Sri Lankan Tamils. He urged Sri Lankan parliamentarians that full implementation of 13th Amendment and going beyond will facilitate process of reconciliation. Raising fishermen issue, he urged to find a long term solution to this complex issue. PM also visited IPKF war memorial to pay homage to over 1200 Indian soldiers who laid down their lives to protect integrity of the island nation. He described the monument as emotional manifestation of bonds of friendship between the two nations. Refusing umbrella in the pouring rain, Modi revealed the deep respect he holds for the martyrs. It means a lot to the soldiers at home. He also visited war ravaged Jaffna where he handed over 20,000 dwelling units to the displaced Tamils and inaugurated a Railway Line constructed by IRCON. He also met leaders of Tamil National Alliance and other political parties. It is hoped that Indo-Lankan relations will take a positive course and the words will soon translate into action.
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