The Parliamentary Committee of Foreign Affairs expressed concern over China’s growing presence and its growing impact in the Indian Ocean Region (IOR) on Monday (August 11, 2025) that the development raises risks for India’s national security and comprehensive strategic interests.

The committee said in its report on the evaluation of India’s Indian Ocean strategy introduced in Parliament on Monday that the strengthening of China-Pakistan naval alliance is also a matter of equally concern.

40 percent population in Indian Ocean

The report of the committee headed by Congress MP and former Union Minister Shashi Tharoor said that the committee believes that these developments should be given immediate attention, as they have the ability to change the balance of power in the region, challenge India’s strategic autonomy and reduce its impact on major marine barriers.

The Indian Ocean has about 40 percent of the world’s population, which is spread over about 35 coastal states. The committee underlined the importance of the region, saying that India has a 7,500 km long coastline and more than 1,300 islands.

Strategic challenges for India

The report is in more than 130 pages, stating, “In a written reply, the Ministry said that strategic challenges for India in the Indian Ocean region include sea traffic, piracy, terrorism, shipping and freedom of air flights and concerns related to the safety of sovereignty and freedom.”

The committee said that another challenge is also the ‘foot of China’. The report said that the committee expressed concern over China’s increasing presence and its growing influence in the Indian Ocean region. The report states, ‘The committee expresses serious concern over China’s growing presence in the Indian Ocean region and its growing influence, which leads to serious risks for India’s national security and comprehensive strategic interests.

More than 15 units involved annually

The committee believes that China’s increased naval abilities, which are examples of its fleet growing size, which are included more than 15 units annually. Now the US has overtaken the Navy, which has become the largest navy in the world.

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