Significance of the great expanse of the Indian Ocean Region (IOR) comes from its centrality to global trade  and as a conduit of energy supply to the Asiatic powers. In fulfilment of its ‘Chinese Dream’ therefore, China has found added interests over the Indian Ocean and its littoral nations. Accordingly, it has launched a massive programme to establish itself in this Region.

The concern, however, comes from the intent, means and methods that China has adopted in registering its strategic domination over the IOR based on military power projection, a policy which it views as a prerequisite to the achievement of global power status. Further, peninsular India’s geographical gifted position in the IOR makes China imagine India as a rival and an obstacle to its hegemonic goals.

This monograph is a factual description of the PRC`s strategy to displace India from its natural advantages – geographic as well as cultural in the IOR, and so marginalise it in the neighbourhood. The paper then goes on to offer certain recommendations that would protect Indian as well as the subcontinental interests against China’s irascible overbearance.