Description
The Sino-Indian rivalry has been intensely talked about in strategic circles. Their rivalry has now spilled over the maritime domain, and the Indian Ocean Region (IOR) forms a central part of it. The Maldives, strategically located in the middle of the Indian Ocean, has recently become a part of their rivalry. India has always considered the IOR as their traditional sphere of influence; nevertheless, the increasing forays of China in this region have led to growing insecurity among the Indian strategic circle regarding the intention of China. Through the lens of the security dilemma given by Robert Jervis, this paper analyses their rivalry in the Maldives. The paper explores the intensity of their rivalry in Maldives using Jervis’ “Four Worlds” scenario. The paper finds that although the security dilemma is operating between the two in Maldives, the defensive nature helps mitigate the intensity of their rivalry.
Keywords: Security dilemma; Indian Ocean Region; India-China Rivalry; Maldives.
