Paper Details

China’s increased presence in the South Pacific is a new development in the area’s politics and creates new problems and openings for India in the region. The paper looks at China’s varied strategy of reaching Pacific Island nations by investing in infrastructure, forming economic partnerships and building diplomatic ties, all under the Belt and Road Initiative. By examining bilateral treaties, trade data and infrastructure projects during this period, this research has uncovered the main ways in which China’s regional strategy has changed power dynamics in the Pacific. China’s increasing role has greatly changed things, as it is switching economic relationships among those island nations formerly allied with the West. Deep-water ports built in Fiji, Papua New Guinea and Vanuatu by the Chinese, thanks to their investments, may have commercial and military uses at the same time. As a result, the country’s advances in submarine cable and 5G technology expansion have made their digital technology more noticeable in the region. Because of these recent developments, India must rethink its overall Indo-Pacific approach. What China is doing in the Pacific region has a direct effect on India’s sea routes, observation over its waters and relationships with other countries. Under this study, it is suggested that India work towards closer naval exchanges with partners in the Pacific, give more assistance for regional development to counter Chinese influence and cooperate more closely with the Quad. It is recommended by researchers that, for India to maintain South Pacific stability, it should use economic diplomacy, encourage joint maritime security and cooperate on technology. Suggested actions cover India partnering with Pacific Island nations, improving its maritime security and demonstrating its democratic and development strengths to make itself an attractive competitor to China.

China-South Pacific relations, Maritime expansion, Belt and Road Initiative, Indo-Pacific strategy, India’s Act East Policy, Geopolitical competition