US dossier raises security concern in Indian Ocean, says China may deploy aircraft carriers in Djibouti

Security concern in Indian Ocean: The United States Department of Defence has reported that China may deploy aircraft carriers, warships and submarines in the Indian Ocean region, at its first overseas military base in Djibouti.

This would have profound security ramifications for the Indian Navy. The US Department of Defence raises this concern in its annual report on China which was released on Sunday.

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Chinese pier now operational

"In late March 2022, a FUCHI II class (Type 903A) supply ship Luomahu docked at the 450-metre pier for resupply; the first such reported PLA Navy port call to the Djibouti support base, indicating that the pier is now operational," says the US Department of Defence's 2022 China Military Power Report. "The pier likely is able to accommodate the PLA Navy's aircraft carriers, other large combatants, and submarines," it adds.

Earlier too the US had raised the possibility of China getting ready to deploy aircraft carriers in the Indian Ocean region. Admiral Harry Harris Jr., who was commanding the US Pacific Command, said in 2017, "There is nothing to prevent them from sailing in the Indian Ocean today."

China now has three operational ships, each with incrementally greater capability. On the other side, the Indian Navy has two aircraft carriers – one made-in-Russia INS Vikramaditya and the other is INS Vikrant. The latter is still not fully operational.

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Lack of experience

The US report says, "PLA Navy Marines are stationed at the [Djibouti] base with wheeled armoured vehicles and artillery, but are currently largely dependent on nearby commercial ports due to the lack of experience utilizing its recently operational pier on its base."

PLA forces deployed in the Djibouti base "have interfered with U.S. flights by lasing pilots and flying drones, and the PRC (People's Republic of China) has sought to restrict Djiboutian sovereign airspace over the base", it notes.

The Djibouti base seems just a small part of Beijing identifying and ultimately acquiring land in countries where it can expand its military presence.

"Beyond its base in Djibouti, the PRC is very likely already considering and planning for additional military logistics facilities to support naval, air, and ground forces projection," the US report says. This includes securing a presence in the Indo-Pacific beyond the artificial islands that it has illegally constructed in the South China Sea.

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