US, not China, ‘real challenger’ to New Delhi’s Indian Ocean interests

‘More common interests than differences’ between the Asian neighbours, Chinese military strategist tells King’s College seminar

The two sides ‘should view each other’s development with open minds in the advent of an Asian century’

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A senior Chinese military strategist says last year’s sailing of the USS John Paul Jones into waters claimed by India was an example of how the US is challenging Indian rights and interests. Photo: US Navy

Published: 1:26pm, 3 Oct 2022Updated: 6:04pm, 3 Oct 2022

The United States, not China, is the real challenger to India’s rights and interests in the Indian Ocean, according to a Chinese military strategist, who called on the Asian neighbours to better manage their differences and stabilise ties.

Zhou Bo, a senior fellow at Tsinghua University’s Centre for International Security and Strategy, pointed to last year’s sailing of the USS John Paul Jones guided missile destroyer into waters claimed by India as its exclusive economic zone.

Zhou Bo, a former PLA officer and defence ministry official, says relations between India and China could suffer dire consequences if mismanaged. Photo: Minnie Chan

“The US Navy’s Seventh Fleet issued a written statement saying it did so because the US would challenge India’s ‘excessive maritime claims’, which was met with an Indian backlash,” said Zhou, a retired senior colonel and former director of the Chinese defence ministry’s office for international cooperation.

“India’s exclusive economic zone covers one-thirtieth of the Indian Ocean. In other words, the United States’ claim to challenge India means that, at least in the eyes of Americans, a thirtieth of the Indian Ocean is not free and open because of India.”

Speaking at an online seminar organised by the King’s College London and the Centre for Policy Research, an Indian think tank, in late September, Zhou warned that China-India relations could suffer dire consequence if mismanaged.

“If left to fate, such an attitude is not only irresponsible but can also push China-India relations in a deleterious direction.”