India worries about Beijing’s submarines

China’s Navy strengthens its presence in the Indian Ocean.

For eight days in September, a Chinese Song-class submarine made a highly unusual port call in Sri Lanka. For one, the diesel-powered vessel was the first Chinese submarine to ever dock at an Indian Ocean port.

The news raised concerns across the region that China is muscling in on India’s traditional sphere of influence. Chinese state media coverage also provided a glimpse inside the submarine force – literally – and Beijing’s surprise at the controversy the visit created.

Attack submarines from the Chinese navy are becoming increasingly active in the Indian Ocean and could pose a ‘grave threat’ to Indian interests there, according to a report issued last year by India’s Ministry of Defense.

The report, titled Indian Navy: Perceived Threats to Subsurface Deterrent Capability and Preparedness, said the “implicit focus” of the People’s Liberation Army Navy (PLAN) appeared to be that of undermining the Indian Navy’s ability “to control highly sensitive sea lines of communication” within the region Indian media has said that Chinese nuclear submarines are making “frequent forays into the Indian Ocean.”

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