<p>Defence and strategic experts on Monday said that China's posturing in the Indian Ocean will disturb stability and peace in the region.</p>.<p>Commandant of National Defence College, Vice-Admiral Pradeep Kaushiva, said that the People's Liberation Army (PLA) of China has been establishing naval bases in the Indian Ocean for a long time.</p>.<p>The PLA Navy may need such bases in large numbers to minimise the geographical distance from China, he said while speaking at a webinar organised by Tillotama Foundation.</p>.<p>"In such a scenario, the Indian Ocean is poised for turbulence and I believe it is in the offing," Vice-Admiral Kaushiva said.</p>.<p>He said, "It is time to forge ahead with the Quad security dialogue - comprising the US, Japan, Australia and India - to check the rise of expansionist China and protect the security of the region".</p>.<p>In November 2017, the four countries gave shape to the "Quad" or Quadrilateral coalition to develop a new strategy to keep the critical sea routes in the Indo-Pacific free of any influence.</p>.<p>David Brewster of Australian National University (ANU) said that China's approach to the Indian Ocean is political and strategic.</p>.<p>Brewster is a Senior Research Fellow with the National Security College at the ANU, where he specialises in South Asian and Indian Ocean strategic affairs.</p>.<p>He said, "There has been a significant deterioration in the relationship between Australia and China in the last six months as our country hailed the need for an independent inquiry into the Covid crisis".</p>.<p>Subsequently, Beijing had imposed sanctions against Australia, he said.</p>.<p>However, China needs Australian resources like iron ore for which the balance of trade was not in China's favour, Brewster said.</p>.<p>He said that there are growing concerns about China's influence in the Indian Ocean and it is time to make Quad a credible grouping.</p>.<p>According to him, the Covid crisis will substantially change the economics of Belt and Road Initiative (BRI).</p>.<p>The BRI is a multi-billion-dollar initiative launched by Chinese President Xi Jinping when he came to power in 2013. It aims to link Southeast Asia, Central Asia, the Gulf region, Africa and Europe with a network of land and sea routes.</p>.<p>Jayanath Colombage, additional secretary to the President and former commander of Sri Lankan Navy, said that his country is not happy about what is taking place in the Indian Ocean.</p>.<p>He said that the Hambantota port, in which China has 85 per cent stake, is a Sri Lankan Port and not a Chinese one.</p>.<p>"We will not allow anyone to use a single inch of our land for military purposes which might pose a security threat to India," he added.</p>
<p>Defence and strategic experts on Monday said that China's posturing in the Indian Ocean will disturb stability and peace in the region.</p>.<p>Commandant of National Defence College, Vice-Admiral Pradeep Kaushiva, said that the People's Liberation Army (PLA) of China has been establishing naval bases in the Indian Ocean for a long time.</p>.<p>The PLA Navy may need such bases in large numbers to minimise the geographical distance from China, he said while speaking at a webinar organised by Tillotama Foundation.</p>.<p>"In such a scenario, the Indian Ocean is poised for turbulence and I believe it is in the offing," Vice-Admiral Kaushiva said.</p>.<p>He said, "It is time to forge ahead with the Quad security dialogue - comprising the US, Japan, Australia and India - to check the rise of expansionist China and protect the security of the region".</p>.<p>In November 2017, the four countries gave shape to the "Quad" or Quadrilateral coalition to develop a new strategy to keep the critical sea routes in the Indo-Pacific free of any influence.</p>.<p>David Brewster of Australian National University (ANU) said that China's approach to the Indian Ocean is political and strategic.</p>.<p>Brewster is a Senior Research Fellow with the National Security College at the ANU, where he specialises in South Asian and Indian Ocean strategic affairs.</p>.<p>He said, "There has been a significant deterioration in the relationship between Australia and China in the last six months as our country hailed the need for an independent inquiry into the Covid crisis".</p>.<p>Subsequently, Beijing had imposed sanctions against Australia, he said.</p>.<p>However, China needs Australian resources like iron ore for which the balance of trade was not in China's favour, Brewster said.</p>.<p>He said that there are growing concerns about China's influence in the Indian Ocean and it is time to make Quad a credible grouping.</p>.<p>According to him, the Covid crisis will substantially change the economics of Belt and Road Initiative (BRI).</p>.<p>The BRI is a multi-billion-dollar initiative launched by Chinese President Xi Jinping when he came to power in 2013. It aims to link Southeast Asia, Central Asia, the Gulf region, Africa and Europe with a network of land and sea routes.</p>.<p>Jayanath Colombage, additional secretary to the President and former commander of Sri Lankan Navy, said that his country is not happy about what is taking place in the Indian Ocean.</p>.<p>He said that the Hambantota port, in which China has 85 per cent stake, is a Sri Lankan Port and not a Chinese one.</p>.<p>"We will not allow anyone to use a single inch of our land for military purposes which might pose a security threat to India," he added.</p>