India is still quite worried about the possibility of Chinese troops being stationed at the strategically important Coco Islands in the Bay of Bengal, even though the Myanmar Junta has promised that this won’t happen. India has been keeping a close eye on the island chain, which is fewer than 100 nautical miles from Landfall Island in India.
Myanmar Says No to Chinese Presence
Myanmar’s ruling Junta tried to calm India’s anxieties during the second annual defense discussion in Naypyitaw last month (September 25–27).
Official Assurance: Myanmar Junta officials told India’s Defense Secretary, Rajesh Kumar Singh, who was visiting, that “not a single Chinese national was present” in the Coco Islands.
Indian Concern: This promise was made directly in response to India’s long-standing worry that Beijing might be utilizing the islands in the Bay of Bengal as a listening post.
People in the conversation: Singh met with Major General Kyaw Ko Htike, who is in charge of training the Myanmar armed forces, during the visit.
Main Concern: Not letting the Indian Navy in
Even though they promised verbally that there would be no Chinese presence, the Myanmar Junta has been ignoring New Delhi’s official request to visit the island group.
Indian Request: The Indian Navy has asked for permission to visit the Coco Islands many times through official military and diplomatic channels.
The ruling Junta has not yet given the Indian Navy permission to enter, which observers see as a key bone of contention, indicating a reluctance to enable physical verification.
Proof of Major Infrastructure Growth
Indian national security planners are worried because the Coco Islands are close to India’s defense installations and there have been big changes to the infrastructure there.
Proximity: The island group is very close to India, less than 100 nautical miles from the Andaman and Nicobar Islands.
Infrastructure Upgrade: Satellite images show that a lot of work has been done on the infrastructure, such as an airstrip that is now 2,300 meters long to fit transport planes.
Military Buildup: Aerial reconnaissance has shown additional sheds and barracks that can hold more than 1,500 troops.
New Construction: Military personnel are also removing ground to build a causeway that will connect Coco Island to the nearby Jerry Island.
India’s security concerns about strategy
India’s main worry is that China could use the islands to spy on and monitor India’s defense stations, which are strategically located near the islands.
Missile Tracking: People are worried that the capabilities are being used to keep an eye on Indian missile launches from the Balasore test range and the APJ Abdul Kalam island.
Submarine Monitoring: The islands are also in a good place to keep an eye on India’s nuclear ballistic missile submarines that leave and return to the new naval facility at Rambilli, which is close to Visakhapatnam.
Strategic Deterrent: Indian planners think that China is using the islands to test India’s strategic deterrent’s range, capacity, and lethality using air surveillance and ballistic missile trackers.
The Myanmar government’s power is weak in the north and west, where China-linked insurgency groups and heavily armed drug militias are said to be in charge. This makes the overall security situation more problematic.