CHINA'S BELT AND ROAD INITIATIVE AND SECURITY ARCHITECTURE OF INDIAN OCEAN REGION: THE RELEVANCE OF GWADAR PORT, AND DJIBOUTI

Abstract

The Belt and Road Initiative (BRI) seeks to facilitate and cultivate China's peaceful rise. According to China's position on maritime influence, the acquisition of global dominance can be achieved through the exercise of naval superiority and regulation of maritime commerce. This phenomenon can be explained by the fact that, despite the abundance of land, the sea route is the most effective way to facilitate vital economic interactions. China has been the focus of considerable scholarly investigation within the field of global politics. The rapid rise of China seems to be predominantly driven by an economy based on trade. Between 2007 and 2020, China made a significant contribution to the growth of international trade, comparable to that of other countries. This paper proposes an explanation of the manifestation of Chinese strategy in the Indian Ocean through the lens of securitization theory. According to Buzan, Waever, and de Wilde, a successful securitization process includes three key steps: the presence of threats to the entity's existence, the consequences of failing to follow accepted rules on interactions between interested parties, and the use of emergency measures. The geopolitical contours of the BRI's land and water components. After analyzing the geopolitical contribution of Gwadar and Djibouti within the context of the securitization logic intrinsic to the Chinese maritime Silk Road, it was determined that these two ports have a significant geopolitical impact. The Chinese approach towards the Indian Ocean Region (IOR) signifies more than mere pursuit of resources, connectivity, and infrastructure The analysis concludes that the Chinese maritime strategy in the Indian Ocean aims to achieve diverse securitization in the political, economic, and strategic spheres. Keywords: Securitization, BRI, Gwadar, Djibouti, Indian Ocean Region (IOR)