The Indian Ocean: Motivations for Re-Defining China’s Maritime Strategy

　　ABSTRACT: In the 21st century, China’s Indian Ocean strategy has been seen widely by scholars as an essential path for China’s peaceful development, and as critical to China’s efforts to become a global power. As it maintains its land power in East Asia, China must also protect its legal maritime interests, including sovereignty over its maritime possessions and the extension of its rights according to international law. In the current international system where maritime principles are still guided by the ranks of the Western powers, rising powers may need clear strategic intentions and objectives in order to emphasize protection of their legal rights. China is not presently an Indian Ocean state, nor does it have a clearly articulated Indian Ocean strategy, however new uncertainties in the international context have already prompted China to bring the Indian Ocean into consideration as it formulates its maritime strategy, and to view the Indian Ocean together with the Pacific Ocean as critical elements of a new strategic blueprint.