'String of Pearls': How China-made Kyaukphyu Port in Myanmar threatens India's nuclear attack submarine base

As part of China’s continuous efforts to encircle India, it has expedited the construction of Kyaukphyu Port on the western coast on Myanmar. The maritime hub can likely be repurposed for military matters as and when required.

The port is among several China-controlled points in the region including a naval base in Cambodia, Hambantota in Sri Lanka and Gwadar in Pakistan, apart from a naval station at the port of Djibouti.

China’s Kyaukphyu Port poses direct threat to India

Over the last week of December 2023, a deal was reportedly agreed between China and Myanmar to speed up the project. Officials from Myanmar’s ruling junta and China state-owned CITIC Group (Myanmar) met at the Myanmar’s capital Naypyitaw to amp up the construction work.

The location of Kyaukphyu Port is causing concerns in India due to its location. It is being constructed very close to India’s eastern coast and is in close proximity to the key under-construction Indian naval base – INS Varsha.

This naval base is crucial for India’s defence as it will be housing nuclear attack (SSNs) and ballistic missile submarines (SSBNs).

If China gets successful in monitoring movement of these boats, it would be better placed to neutralise the sea leg of India’s nuclear triad in the event of war. Also, the proximity could enable China to monitor Indian missile tests.

The upcoming port by China is also close to Abdul Kalam Island, used by the DRDO for testing of missile, including those meant for hitting targets on the Chinese mainland in the event of a nuclear exchange.

Not just surveillance

China’s influence could extend beyond surveillance in the region. The proximity of Kyaukphyu to India’s northeastern states raises the scope of China supporting insurgent activities, potentially forcing India to divert resources from other critical areas including the Line of Actual Control (LAC).

The concerns are worrisome to India keeping in view China’s historical support for insurgency, including drug and weapons trafficking in the North East.

The work on the Kyaukphyu Port and KP SEZ began in 2010, but it got stalled due to the Covid pandemic and takeover of the military or ‘Tatmadaw’.

The upcoming port is located in the sea across the restive Rakhine province where the ‘Tatmadaw’ is battling the Arakan Army. Rakhine is also the homeland of the Rohingyas, a persecuted Muslim community in Myanmar.

Why China accelerated Kyaukphyu Port construction?

The entire cost of the Kyaukphyu Port construction is said to be $7.3 billion and on completion it will give China access to the Indian Ocean for direct trade links with West Asia, Europe and the Atlantic region by connecting the seaport with Yunnan province’s capital Kunming by a rail and road link.

What India is doing?

The Government of India is aware of construction work of Kyaukphyu Port picking up pace and is taking measures to nullify these developments.

The steps taken by the Indian government include installing coastal radars to monitor maritime traffic and setting up the Information Management and Analysis Centre (IMAC) at Gurugram for collating and tracking all maritime activities in the region.

Till date, 46 radars have been installed along India’s coastline, with 38 more under construction. Also, 32 radars are operational in various Indian Ocean nations like the Maldives, Mauritius, Sri Lanka, and Seychelles, with an additional 20 under construction in Bangladesh, fortifying its maritime surveillance capabilities.