Notably, since then, China has desisted from deploying the amphibian in operational exercises in the eastern Indian Ocean. In case of Yameen’s Maldives, China had the right incentive to do so. Again, the answer comes from studying Chinese naval behaviour over the past few years carefully. China’s vulnerabilities in its near-seas must be taken advantage of by Indian naval planners. In the game of brinkmanship afoot in the Indian Ocean littorals, India must not be the first one to blink.

Source: Mint February 21, 2018 18:00 UTC