China’s Maritime Security Policy in the Indian Ocean: Assessment and Implication for Korea

China became the second largest economic power. But the gigantic growth of China has triggered another concern that it will project its influence around the Oceans in order to have maritime hegemony. Actually, China recently provoked conflicts with the Japan, Philippines, Vietnam as well as the U.S in South and East China Sea. However, it would be premature to decide that Chinese maritime security policy is quite offensive for securing maritime hegemony. This is because maritime environment in the Indian Ocean is quite different from that of the Pacific Ocean. First, in the Indian Ocean, there is no dominant maritime power, unlike in the Pacific Ocean where bilateral military alliances led by the U.S are playing a key role in maritime status quo. Second, there is much room for cooperation among nations because non-traditional security issues such as piracy, armed robbery against ships and illegal transportation of WMD cannot be tackled by one or some nations. Third, Africa becomes an attractive region to China for its national resources. Against this backdrop, China is pursuing ‘tailored strategy’ by becoming ‘multilateral’ and ‘cooperative’ in the Indian Ocean, while staying ‘unilateral’ and ‘conflicting’ in the Pacific Ocean. For example, China is trying to make a positive contribution to peacekeeping, disaster relief and count-piracy operations in the Indian Ocean.

Considering this, Korea should prepare multi-leveled maritime policy. At a bilateral level, Korea should consolidate military alliances with the U.S and Japan. At a multilateral level, it needs cooperation among nations to fight against non-traditional security threats like piracy. Finally, at a unilateral level, it should strengthen capability of navy forces by equipping with modernized equipment with cutting-edge technologies.