Introduction
The early decades of the twenty-first century have been marked by intense Sino-Indian security competition over the Indian Ocean Region (IOR). The Indian Ocean Region (IOR) has been the site of this face-off primarily since the economies of both countries are heavily dependent on the import of fuel through this mass body of water from the oil-rich Middle East. China has undergone radical economic transformation, and as a result, its influence in East Asia, Southeast Asia, and South Asia has soared exponentially. In South Asia, China has secured a commanding presence through its investments and infrastructural projects in Pakistan, Bangladesh, Sri Lanka and the Maldives. Furthermore, China’s railroad and port projects in Myanmar, part of Southeast Asia, also contribute to consolidating its influence over South Asia by
providing the country access to the Bay of Bengal, a vital part of the Indian Ocean.
