The acquisition of the first of eight advanced Hangor-class submarines from China marks a significant shift in the balance of power in the Indian Ocean and Arabian Sea in favour of Beijing.
The launching ceremony for the first Hangor-class submarine, developed by China for Pakistan, was held in Wuhan in April. This agreement, signed during Chinese President Xi Jinping’s 2015 visit to Pakistan, stipulates that four submarines will be built in China and four in Pakistan.
These submarines are equipped with air-independent propulsion (AIP) technology, giving Pakistan a strategic edge over India, which lacks such advanced stealth submarines. The AIP system allows non-nuclear submarines to operate without needing atmospheric oxygen, making them almost noiseless and stealthier than nuclear attack submarines.
China’s objective in providing these stealth submarines to its long-time ally Pakistan may be to divert India’s attention from the ongoing competition for dominance in the Indian Ocean. The US and its Western allies have projected India as a counterbalance to China’s rising power.
China’s Interests in the Indian Ocean
China’s ambition to become a global maritime power hinges on increasing its military presence in the Indian Ocean, which is crucial for shipping lanes used for oil and goods. In 2017, China established its first overseas military base in Djibouti, situated on the northwestern edge of the Indian Ocean.
China views a stronger Pakistani navy as essential for addressing its security challenges in the region. In 2022, the Pakistan Navy commissioned Tughril, its most advanced warship, built at the Shanghai Shipyard and equipped with surface-to-air and supersonic surface-to-surface missiles. In the same year, Pakistan received Taimur, the second of four guided-missile warships from China, further extending the operational reach of Pakistan’s naval forces.
China’s partnership with Pakistan, which gives it a strategic foothold in the Indian Ocean, has raised security concerns in New Delhi. India, like China, relies heavily on the Indian Ocean for the transportation of crude oil and goods. Moreover, India perceives China’s investments in naval bases and ports across Pakistan, Sri Lanka, and the Maldives as a strategy to encircle the Indian Ocean maritime domain.
In 2022, India protested the docking of a Chinese research vessel at Hambantota in Sri Lanka, fearing it could surveil India’s defence capabilities. By equipping the Pakistan Navy with stealth submarines, China may heighten naval competition between Pakistan and India. This could also intensify geopolitical rivalry in the Indian Ocean, especially given India’s participation in the Quad alongside Australia, Japan, and the US.
China Hoping for Strategic Dividends
Expanding its strategic presence in the Indian Ocean allows China to secure maritime routes for its energy supplies. Eighty per cent of China’s oil passes through the Strait of Malacca, a narrow waterway between Indonesia and Malaysia that lies to the east of the Indian Ocean.
The Chinese-operated Gwadar Port on Pakistan’s southwest coast could serve as a strategic asset for China, allowing it to bypass potential blockades in the Strait of Malacca via the Arabian Sea. China is not only strengthening Pakistan’s naval capabilities but also developing Gwadar Port, which could yield long-term strategic dividends.
The US Pentagon has identified Gwadar as a potential site for a future Chinese military base. A naval presence in Gwadar would enable China to conduct regular patrols in the Arabian Sea. China’s enduring strategic alliance with Pakistan introduces new challenges for competitors vying for dominance in the Indian Ocean.
June 25, 2024
Source: Channel News Asia