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The document discusses China's "String of Pearls" strategy, which refers to ports and other assets China is developing along major sea lanes from China to the Middle East and Africa. This includes ports in Pakistan, Sri Lanka, Bangladesh, and Somalia. The strategy aims to secure China's energy imports and trade routes, and expand its influence. It also allows China to project military power into the Indian Ocean region. Some concerns this raises include strategic competition with the US and India, China's relations with unstable countries, and the implications of its growing naval capabilities.

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Vikrant Lad
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53 views11 pages

Presentation 1

The document discusses China's "String of Pearls" strategy, which refers to ports and other assets China is developing along major sea lanes from China to the Middle East and Africa. This includes ports in Pakistan, Sri Lanka, Bangladesh, and Somalia. The strategy aims to secure China's energy imports and trade routes, and expand its influence. It also allows China to project military power into the Indian Ocean region. Some concerns this raises include strategic competition with the US and India, China's relations with unstable countries, and the implications of its growing naval capabilities.

Uploaded by

Vikrant Lad
Copyright
© © All Rights Reserved
We take content rights seriously. If you suspect this is your content, claim it here.
Available Formats
Download as PPTX, PDF, TXT or read online on Scribd
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STRING OF PEARL

Intro
• The String of Pearls refers to the Chinese sea
lines of communication which extend from the
Chinese mainland to Port Sudan. The sea lines
run through several major choke points such as
the Strait of Mandeb, the Strait of Malacca, the
Strait of Hormuz and the Lombok Strait, as well as
other strategic maritime centres in Pakistan, Sri
Lanka, Bangladesh, the Maldives and Somalia.
The term was used in an internal United States
Department of Defence report titled "Energy
Futures in Asia"
Energy security

• The sea lines of communication from Hong Kong to


Port Sudan have become a source of conflict with
respect to China's future energy security. China is the
world's second largest oil consumer and the third
largest oil importer. China imports 15% of its oil from
West Africa, is the largest consumer of Sudanese oil,
and has signed long term contracts to develop Iranian
oil fields.
• With a wave of pirate attacks off the coast of Somalia
in late 2008, the ongoing war in Darfur. Chinese foreign
policy has now shifted toward a more direct approach
to dealing with such hostilities.
Military facilities

• South China Sea


• Central Asian conflict
• Indian Ocean
Motivation Behind the String of
Pearls.
• China’s development, from its expanding economy and
increased global influence to its growing military might
and demand for energy, presents tremendous
challenges to China’s leaders as they manage the
turmoil of massive structural, technological, and social
changes. The governing elites of China have three
overarching concerns: regime survival, territorial
integrity, and domestic stability.
• Regime survival is the foremost concern of the Chinese
Communist Party (CCP), and party leadership is acutely
aware that their success hinges upon the satisfaction of
the Chinese people and the government’s ability to
protect Chinese national interests.
• Since the end of the Cold War, China has made
progress with respect to territorial integrity. Although
the unification of Taiwan persists as a contentious issue
and territorial disputes remain, such as a competing
claim with Japan over sovereignty of the Diaoyutai
(Senkaku) Islands, China successfully has stabilized and
demilitarized its land borders in North and Central
Asia.14 China is becoming more influential in Central
Asia under the auspices of the Shanghai Cooperation
Organization (SCO), whose member states consist of
China, Russia, Kazakhstan, Uzbekistan, Kyrgyzstan, and
Tajikistan, along with the observer members of India,
Pakistan, Iran, and Mongolia.
• India is showing signs of slow but pragmatic
progress. During Prime Minister Vajpayee’s
visit to China in 2003, India, for the first time,
recognized China’s claims to Tibet and China
reciprocated by recognizing India’s claim to
the Himalayan state of Sikkim.
STRATEGIC ANALYSIS
• Dependence on overseas resources and energy
supplies, especially oil and natural gas, is playing a role
in shaping China’s strategy and policy. Such concerns
factor heavily in Beijing’s relations with Angola, Central
Asia, Indonesia, the Middle East (including Iran), Russia,
Sudan, and Venezuela—to pursue long-term supply
agreements—as well as its relations with countries that
sit astride key geostrategic chokepoints—to secure
passage. Beijing’s belief that it requires such special
relationships in order to assure its energy access could
shape its defence strategy and force planning in the
future. Indicators of such a shift would include
increased investment in a blue-water capable fleet and,
potentially, a more activist military presence abroad.
Strategic Context.
• With an understanding of what the “String of Pearls” is, and how
and why it is a manifestation of China’s development, we now turn
to a multilevel analysis of the implications and repercussions of
the “String of Pearls.” This analysis will first examine China’s grand
strategy of “peaceful development” in the context of the global
security environment and its implications for U.S. foreign policy.
The security guaranteed by American primacy in Asia has enabled
the United States to provide a public good for the region by
facilitating freedom of navigation on the high seas.
• China’s efforts to develop the “String of Pearls” not only supports
“peaceful development,” but also supports a hedging strategy if
needed. By constantly assessing regional geopolitical
developments as well as specific military challenges, the United
States must remain vigilant for the indicators and warnings that
will reveal the future direction of China’s policy and strategy.
Challenges Posed by the “String of
Pearls.”
• The “String of Pearls” presents a complex
strategic situation with many facets. U.S.
policymakers’ major concerns are the potential
for competition with China for regional influence,
China’s relationship with rogue states, and
China’s military modernization. The collapse of
the Soviet Union facilitated the growth of China’s
influence and presence along the “String of
Pearls” in the South China Sea, Indian Ocean, and
Arabian Sea, by allowing Beijing greater strategic
latitude.

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