India and China have continued their strategic competition in the Indian Ocean Region (IOR), even as their troops remain in a standoff along their land borders, a ToI report said on August 27. On Monday, India’s guided-missile destroyer INS Mumbai arrived at Colombo, coinciding with the docking of three Chinese warships, stoking concerns over increasing Chinese naval presence in the region, the report (by Rajat Pandit) said.

According to an Indian defence official, “Chinese warships, including those part of its anti-piracy escort forces, are now staying in the IOR for a much longer time than earlier.” Such developments reflect China’s growing interest in the IOR, aiming for additional logistical facilities, posing significant challenges for India. To counteract, the Indian Navy, with its 140-warship fleet, requires adequate force-levels to manage Pakistan and deter China in the IOR.

The Indian Navy has been closely monitoring the Chinese warships’ movements in the region. The Chinese flotilla includes destroyer Hefei, and amphibious ships Wuzhishan and Qilianshan, totaling around 1,500 personnel. This observation continued until the ships docked at Colombo on Monday.

Sri Lanka welcomed INS Mumbai, led by Captain Sandeep Kumar with 410 sailors, and the Chinese warships in line with naval traditions. Both sets of warships are scheduled to conduct separate “passage exercises” with Sri Lankan naval vessels upon their departure on August 29.

India’s concerns have intensified after losing ground to China in the Maldives, where the Mohamed Muizzu administration signed a defence cooperation pact with Beijing. This agreement led to the withdrawal of Indian military personnel operating a Dornier aircraft and two helicopters. The docking of Chinese warships at Colombo has not been well-received in New Delhi, given past protests when Sri Lanka allowed Chinese warships, spy vessels, and submarines to dock at its ports.

Attention is now on the upcoming Sri Lankan Presidential elections on September 21. India favors the re-election of President Ranil Wickremesinghe over Anura Kumara Dissanayake of the National People’s Power, a party perceived to be pro-China.China’s naval expansion is marked by its world’s largest navy, comprising over 360 warships and submarines. China has been enhancing its “underwater domain awareness” in the IOR by deploying survey and research vessels to gather oceanographic and navigational data for submarine operations.Joint naval initiatives between China and Pakistan are raising additional concerns. China is bolstering Pakistan’s Navy by delivering four Type 054A/P multi-role frigates and planning to supply eight Yuan-class diesel-electric submarines. An Indian officer observed, “By 2028-29, Pakistan will have the same number of assets as India’s Western Naval Command.”