Beginning of an end in Indian Ocean

Abstract

The Mackinder’s seventh century old theory of Heartland stills provesits geopolitical value as it emncompsesCentral Asia,Caspian Region and Asiatic Monsoon Rimland. The Indian Ocean at confluence of Pangaea futhur enhances the value of Heartland by allowing it to share its energy resources with offshore and outlaying islands of UK, Japan and Americas respectively. All the regional and extra regionalpowers are endeavouring to win the Great Game by sharing the maximum of the Central Asian and Caspian energy resources. Since the withdrawl of UK from the east after world War II the U.S has been trying to dominate the Indian Ocean Region but the emergence of China as a world economic power is manifasting various concerns for the U.S. In order to contain the emerging China the U.S has announced to shift his naval assests to Pacific Ocean and is backing its allies like Australia, Indonesia and India to secure the sea lines of coummunications for securing its interets in the Indian Ocean. Since China has adopted its ‘Stirngs of Pearls’ strategy to secure its sea lines of communications and construction of Gwadar Port at gate of energy distributing choke point at of Hurmoz Strait has raised the U.Sapprehensions about the possible Chinese naval build up as it can off set the U.S domination at choke point of Malacca Strait. The Chinese plan to construct Kra Canal in the southern Thailand to link Bay of Bangal with the South China Sea, by Passing the U.S dominated Malacca Strait which can cause a power struggle allacross the oceanic region.