On November 26, Beijing confirmed its plans to build the first overseas naval military base in the East African nation of Djibouti. This is an important step forward in China’s strategic military development.
By Amrita Jash
On November
26, Beijing confirmed its plans to build the first overseas naval military base
in the East African nation of Djibouti.
This is an important step forward in China’s strategic military development.
Calling for its benign intentions of playing a greater role in ensuring
regional peace and stability behind its overseas base, Chinese Foreign Ministry
Spokesman, Hong Lei said:
“The
construction of the relevant facilities will help China’s navy and army further
participate in UN peacekeeping operations, carry out escort missions in the
waters near Somalia and the Gulf of Aden, and provide humanitarian assistance”.
But this
Chinese ‘logic of peace’ against Djibouti does not stand strong. Despite being
a tiny nation in the Horn of Africa, Djibouti holds geo-strategic advantage. It
acts as a passage to the Red Sea and the Suez Canal and most importantly, a
strong base to combat Somalian piracy- a severe threat to shipping in Indian
Ocean. Besides, it also serves as an important transit port regional and
international shipping as well as a base for refueling. Given these strategic
characteristics, China’s overseas base in Djibouti as a benign move calls for
immediate attention. On the contrary, given the rising tensions in the high
seas, especially in the Indian Ocean, where China faces severe challenge from
United States and India- Djibouti acts as the litmus test of China’s foothold
in the Indian Ocean.
What makes Indian Ocean important is the fact that it contains the vital sea lanes- acting as a strategic trade corridor. For more than 80 per cent of the world’s seaborne trade in oil transits through Indian Ocean choke points, with 40 per cent passing through the Strait of Hormuz, 35 per cent through the Strait of Malacca and 8 per cent through the Bab el-Mandab Strait. This strategic calculus makes it imperative for any great power to strengthen its military bases in the Indian Ocean region (IOR). In this view, China adds no exception given this logic. Unlike United States and India, China witnesses a ‘pariah’ status in the IOR given its lack of geographical proximity as well as logistical support base. Facing this strategic disadvantage, it has become imperative for China to safeguard its economic and security interests in the Indian Ocean. And in doing so, China needs to strengthen its military presence and activities in the Indian Ocean- by building bases in the IOR and acting as an off-shore balancer.
What makes Indian Ocean important is the fact that it contains the vital sea lanes- acting as a strategic trade corridor. For more than 80 per cent of the world’s seaborne trade in oil transits through Indian Ocean choke points, with 40 per cent passing through the Strait of Hormuz, 35 per cent through the Strait of Malacca and 8 per cent through the Bab el-Mandab Strait. This strategic calculus makes it imperative for any great power to strengthen its military bases in the Indian Ocean region (IOR). In this view, China adds no exception given this logic. Unlike United States and India, China witnesses a ‘pariah’ status in the IOR given its lack of geographical proximity as well as logistical support base. Facing this strategic disadvantage, it has become imperative for China to safeguard its economic and security interests in the Indian Ocean. And in doing so, China needs to strengthen its military presence and activities in the Indian Ocean- by building bases in the IOR and acting as an off-shore balancer.
Identifying
the gap and tapping on its ‘charm offensive’, Djibouti acts as China’s gateway
to Indian Ocean. Broadly, it aims to secure China’s national interest but
specifically this strategic move acts as a countervailing force against other
strong players in the Indian Ocean. This can be said so, as Djibouti hosts
United States’ only African permanent naval base at Djibouti-Ambouli
International Airport. Officially, called Camp Lemonnier, it accommodates the
Pentagon’s African Command (AFRICOM) and is used for CIA drone operations- for
war on terror and combat piracy. While for India being a significant player in
the Indian Ocean, Djibouti serves as the key base helping India to fight the
war against piracy. Besides, Japan and France also have their military presence
in Djibouti.
Image Attribute: Camp Lemmonier, Ambouli International Airport, Djibouti
In connecting
the strategic dots, China’s military installation in Djibouti raises significant
alarms. Undoubtedly, it is an offshoot of Chinese President Xi Jinping’s grand
vision of building the “21st Century Maritime Silk Road”. Wherein, building
China’s first overseas military outpost goes beyond the econometric mercantile
logic as proposed by Xi. Rather it confirms the speculations over China’s growing military intentions in the Indian
Ocean. For Djibouti military base will provide China capabilities to respond to
contingencies affecting freedom of navigation in and around the Persian Gulf-
which is mainly controlled by the United States. Most importantly, by having
its military base in Indian Ocean, China can expand its naval capabilities in
terms of developing sea denial capabilities comprising of deployment of
submarines in Indian Ocean and strategic anti access/area denial (A2/AD)
capabilities. These anticipations over China’s military foothold in Indian
Ocean through Djibouti, further strengthen the claims of China’s encirclement
policy of “String of Pearls”- building naval ports to safeguard the Sea Lanes
of Communications in order to rescue from the choke-points in the high seas.
This strategic choice of China also quantify the change in China’s military
strategy which exhibits a shift from “[t]he traditional mentality that land
outweighs sea must be abandoned, and great importance has to be attached to
managing the seas and oceans and protecting maritime rights and interests”- as
highlighted in the 2015 Defence White Paper.
With its
shifting ambition from continental power to sea power, China’s entry in Indian
Ocean through Djibouti raise alarms for United States and India. For it hinders
United States’ strategic interests by replacing its long standing dominance in
the region both economically and militarily. And for India, it will act as
another ‘pearl’ in China’s encirclement policy. In addition, it also
exemplifies India and China's
competitive interest in Africa. Therefore, the way China will unfold its
military muscle in this quarter of international water will clarify China’s
motivations in the Indian Ocean. China’s limited role in IOR is deemed to get
an impetus in terms of a greater and stronger military presence in the region.
Hence, China’s actions in Djibouti will draw the map of its great power
ambitions in the Indian Ocean. Wherein, the scope of China’s activities in IOR
will only amplify with time both literally and figuratively.
About The Author:
Amrita
Jash (K-5665-2015) is Editor-in-Chief of IndraStra Global
and a Doctoral Candidate at the Centre for East Asian Studies
(Chinese Division), School of International Studies, Jawaharlal Nehru
University. Twitter ID: @amritajash
Cite This Article:
Jash, Amrita.
"China in Djibouti : Setting the Strategic Foot in Indian Ocean
Region." IndraStra 1, no. 12 (2015): 0548.
http://www.indrastra.com/2015/11/2015/12/OPINION-China-in-Djibouti-Setting-Strategic-Foot-Indian-Ocean-Region-0548.html.
ISSN 2381-3652
