A V E
Issue 79, 2021
Established: 1995
Saturday, September 18th 2021
THIS WEEK’S
Yeh dil mange more An article by Saksham Jain Benjamin Lal
Pg. 3
Campus Pg. 5 Caricarure
THE QUARANTINE WATCHLIST Featuring: The Other Boleyn Girl The Truman Show Young Royals Josee, the Tiger and the Fish
Geopolitics: India’s Maritime Affairs -Hiyaneijemmy Das, XI India has much reason to concern itself with mari- more, tensions between China and India in other time security and global maritime affairs. After all, it matters have spilled over and increased naval aggresis a peninsula with more than 7,000 km of coastline. sion and activity on either side. Chinese submarines The Indian Ocean Region is one of the most import- have come as close as Sri Lanka while India makes ant water bodies in terms of trade, communication, great strides in gaining international support from and geopolitics. It goes without saying that India other countries who are also concerned about Chiwill prioritise its coasts and maritime relations.The na’s unending claims and aggressive actions at sea. major conflicts India is embroiled in, involving In order to address these threats and others, the Inmaritime activities, are with Sri Lanka and China. dian Navy has adopted a maritime strategy based Sri Lanka and India have a tumultuous history in on four main missions. The first of these is ‘sea maritime disputes. Firstly, their maritime boundar- control,’ a defensive mission that involves ensuring ies are very close and poorly defined. The very little that Indian and friendly naval forces have the temdistance between the two coasts has made it diffi- porary and local command of the ocean. The second cult to apply internationally-recognised maritime mission is ‘sea denial,’ an offensive mission that inboundary rules. This has led to fishermen from volves weakening enemy naval forces who try to opboth countries contesting fishing areas. Indian fish- erate in the maritime space for a period of time. The ermen use a method called bottom-trawling, which third is ensuring the safety and security of Indian is considered an offence in Sri Lanka. These fishing shipping by providing escorts, attaining sea control conflicts are highlighted by regular news of fishing in key areas, and otherwise neutralizing threats; vessels being seized, and fishermen being arrested, the overall mission being the protection of sea lines missing, or even dead. Secondly, it was agreed upon of communication. It is in this respect that for the by both countries that Sri Lanka enjoyed sovereign- very first time since independence India has begun ty over Katchatheevu Island while Indian fishermen to reconfigure its position in the strategically placed were granted restricted access. This decision to this Andaman, Nicobar and Lakshwadeep islands. day is unaccepted by many fishermen. Thus, a range Finally, and perhaps most importantly, Indiaemof maritime conflicts plague the two countries. phasizes the importance of diplomacy in securing China has long claimed 80% of the South China a nation’s maritime interests. India has pursued Sea whereas by international law, it is entitled to maritime diplomacy that attempts not only to only 20%. This claim, and subsequent disputes with counter China’s influence in the region but to inother countries is of great concern to India, due to crease its own geopolitical influence. As such, Inits proximity to India’s wown naval bases. Further- dia is deepening defense ties with the US, France, 1 Weekly Newsletter of The Assam Valley Express