Part 5/9:
As tensions escalate, China seeks to mitigate its vulnerability by establishing alternative supply routes through ambitious infrastructure projects like the China-Myanmar Economic Corridor and the China-Pakistan Economic Corridor. However, these initiatives lack the capacity and immediacy of the Malacca Strait, which is why China has invested heavily in modernizing its navy, now boasting a fleet larger than that of the US.
China's Strategic Gains and India's Response
China’s naval modernization does not end with sheer numbers; it has established a forward presence in the Indian Ocean through bases in Myanmar and Pakistan. This strategy of continual presence allows China to normalize its operations in the region while simultaneously enhancing its ties with local states.