Objectives in Indian Ocean

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Objectives in Indian Ocean​

Indian Ocean

• Third largest ocean.
• 7350000 sq.km.
• Three important trade routes in world Malacca straits, Strait of Hermuz and Adden Gulf.
• It has most important states from which oil is pumped to Australia, USA, Europe, Asia and Africa.
• All three trade routes have check posts.

In History

• Napoleon attacked Egypt to capture Suez Canal and Adden Gulf to capture and secure trade routes to India.
• When Great Britain captured Asian and African countries first they captured all three trade routes of Indian Ocean. In 1815 Indian Ocean was also called “Britain’s lake”.
• In World War 2 USA to control and secure oil flow from Middle East to America captured Malacca Straits from Japan for safe passage from Indian Ocean to Pacific Ocean.
• After World War 2 when Great Britain gives control of all trade routes then USA deploys Air Carrier Groups on all three.
• India with Russia in 1971 Indo-Pak war blocks Karachi and Chittagong ports Seventh Air Fleet of USA was arrived to stop the blockade.
• After 1971 USA deploys Sixth Air fleet in Adden Gulf, Seventh Air Fleet in Hermuz Strait and Eight Air Fleet in Malacca Strait.
• USA in 1974 establish modern army base with air force and naval support in Diego Garcia, Indian Ocean.
• After Soviet Union Collapse in 1990, USA was sole power in Indian Ocean.

In the meantime two most important and populous emerging powers China and India Started a new race to control Indian Ocean.

China

• China is second most oil consuming country in the world.
• China’s all oil is imported through Indian Ocean. It import 7.3 million barrels oil per day in which 50% is only from Saudi Arabia.
• China Breaks all records of exports and 85% of its products are exported through Indian Ocean.
• China is controlling Indian Ocean very systematically and it is called “Necklace of Pearls”. In this system China is building ports and naval facilities in friendly Countries. Gwadar is good example in which modern deep water port with Oil and container depot. It will also help to petrol its oil routes.
• China is also working on a plan to built oil pipe line from Gwadar to Western part of China to decrease its dependence on sea routes.
• China is also building another port in Hambantota, Sri Lanka for oil and container depot and it also supports naval facilities.
• China has built modern and most sophisticated electronic surveillance system in an Island of Bay of Bengal to keep an eye on sea traffic.
• China is also upgrading Chittagong port to hold container and oil depot and naval facility.
• In Myanmar (Burma), China is investing multi billion dollars on up gradation of port Mergui and road and also building new ports. China is also connecting it with rail tracks. At Mergui it is building naval base.
• In Coco Islands (near Andaman and Nicobar Islands) China has built radar station to keep an eye on Indian navy and Port Blair Ballistic missile range of India.
• CNOOC oil field of China in Malacca Straits gives key observation post to Chinese Navy.
• In Thailand, China is planning to made Panama Canal type route at “Istamis of Kara” which will help it to reach Japan and Korea easily.

India

• India is forth most oil consuming country in the world.
• It resolves 33% of energy from oil in which 65% to 70% is imported through Hermuz Strait.
• In future India will import 90% of oil from Iran through Hermuz Strait.
• According to analyst in 2030 India will be most populous country and to achieve its targets it has to emphasis more and seriously in Indian Ocean.
• Today India imports coal from Australia, Indonesia and South Africa, LNG (liquefied natural gas) from Qatar, Indonesia and Malaysia, and another important thing it has more than 3.5 million Indian nationals (labors to specialists) working in Middle East countries which more than 5 billion dollar foreign revenue per year to secure all this and more it has to control Indian Ocean.
• India has very good relations with Iran and they had an agreement in which Iran will supply 7.5 million ton per day LNG for next 25 years starting from 2009. Another important project is Under way of gas supply to India through Pakistan called IPI (Iran-Pakistan-India) gas pipe line.
• India has developed great economic and trade relations with Middle East countries and not to forget it has played an important role in Afghanistan and Iraq under USA guidance.
• India has invested a lot in Myanmar otherwise there is Army government (Monarchy). Myanmar is important because it is rich in Coal, Zinc, Copper, Oil and Uranium.
• India is planning to built modern port at Karwar, Karnataka due south of Gwadar port to keep an eye on Chinese route.
• India is planning to build a chain of ports and naval facilities in Nicobar Andaman Islands (Total islands 244) for which it can block Malacca Straits which is the most important trade route of China.
• India is expanding its naval power in Indian Ocean. In 21st century India and China will come face to face in Indian Ocean. India is known USA’s ally and both have signed nuclear agreements. After USA and China, India has largest navy in Indian Ocean. USA is minimizing its role in Indian Ocean and wants India to take its place.

Pakistan

• Pakistan is one of the important states of Indian Ocean which is securing its most important route.
• It has seven hundred mile long coast starting from Gwadar to Rann of Kuch.
• All the central Asian land locked states are very much dependent on Pakistani ports.
• All the aid and cargo to Afghanistan are going through Pakistani ports and specially NATO cargo.
• According to analysts in near future Pakistani port of Gwadar and Iranian port of Cha Bahar will help to export oil from Caspian sea for which a twelve hundred miles long of pipe line will be built and you can imagine how much these ports are important for central Asian states.

U.S.A

• When East Pakistan was fall and Bangladesh was come into being then CEATO and SENTO was dissolved under U.S Central Command (Cent COM) and increased its area to Middle East.
• This Central Command fought three wars in the region two in Iraq and one in Afghanistan.
• Know this command is doing work Afg-Pak plan to fight against terrorism in border areas of Pakistan and Afghanistan.
• U.S.A is making India powerful so that India controls Indian Ocean from Persian Gulf to Malacca straits and raising Japanese navy to secure and control western and southern parts of Pacific Ocean.
• Another important thing is that U.S.A wants to minimize Russian influence in Indian Ocean.
• U.S.A is changing different countries governments on its own will liberal media and economic ties, and has changed China by economic ties and Pakistan by liberal media.
• Cent COM face three main problems in Indian Ocean.
  • Secure Middle East oil production and its route in future.
  • To keep strong hold on southern states of ex-Soviet union.
  • To give its duties to India and China to secure Indian Ocean in future.