THE IMPLEMENTATION OF PEOPLE’S REPUBLIC OF CHINA’S MARITIME SECURITY STRATEGY TO PROTECT ENERGY SECURITY IN THE INDIAN OCEAN REGION (2015-2019)

Abstract

Along with the shifting from a developing country to be a new emerging superpower country, China’s economic growth and military development keep rising for the past decades. However, those make China highly relies on energy security and turns into energy importer. The majority of Chinese energy is imported from the Middle East and Horn Africa and needs to be passed through the Indian Ocean. To strengthen its energy, China is building cooperation with Indian littoral states such as Pakistan, Myanmar, Bangladesh, and Sri Lanka through the initiation of Maritime Silk Road. The development of pipelines, ports, and economic corridors are expected to give China direct access to the Indian Ocean. The Indian Ocean as the home of strategic chokepoints and sea line of communications (SLOC’s) also has several security issues such as piracy and external military presence that can threaten China’s energy import routes and China’s interests. This thesis tries to analyze the implementation of China’s maritime security strategy to secure energy security in the Indian Ocean Region in the period of 2015-2019. In analyzing that, this thesis will use qualitative methodology that’s based on primary and secondary resources. Further, the writer finds out that China is applying its maritime security strategy, far seas operation strategy, as well as utilizing the Mahan’s idea of sea power. PLA Navy deployment through the development of naval base, joint cooperation, and antipiracy mission with the naval modernization is being done by China to secure the SLOC’s and interests for its energy security in the Indian Ocean.