Maritime Security Challenges in the Indian Ocean: Australia’s Maritime Security amid the Sandison’s Vulnerability

Authors

  • Ayesha Imtiaz University of the Punjab, Lahore
  • Dr. Muhammad Shareh Qazi University of the Punjab, Lahore

DOI:

https://doi.org/10.58932/MULG0035

Keywords:

Sandison Vulnerability, Indian Ocean, Maritime Security, Indo-Pacific, Belt and Road Initiative

Abstract

The 21st century is the “century of seas” and increasingly recognizes the maritime security and stability of states that are directly or indirectly connected to maritime interest projection. This research examines the maritime security concept and Australia's position in the Indo-Pacific region especially in the Indian Ocean. It also analyzes Australia’s partnership with India and Indonesia to secure and maintain sea control over key strategic chokepoints, islands, and overseas territories against the defiance of its rivals. In a follow up, Australia’s strategic partnerships are also viewed in tandem to China's increasing regional ties with Indian Ocean littoral states through the Belt and Road Initiative and its continued military modernization in the region creating a non-permissive area for other states. Additionally, this research provides insight into Australia's potential role as a central player in the evolving Indo-Pacific region and the way it will create a deterrent effect to its “Sandison vulnerability”.

References

“A Minilateral Defence Triad between Indonesia, Australia, and India?” n.d. Australian Institute of International Affairs. ttps://www.internationalaffairs.org.au/australianoutlook/a-minilateral-defence-triad-between-indonesia-australia-and-india/.

“Australian National Anthem.” 2021. https://www.pmc.gov.au/sites/default/files/resource/download/national-anthem-2021-words-sheet.pdf.

ACT, Russell, 2022. “Department of Defence.” Defence.gov.au. 2022. https://www.defence.gov.au/about/reviews-inquiries/defence-strategic-review.

ACT, Russell,. 2016. “Department of Defence.” Defence.gov.au. 2016. https://www.defence.gov.au/about/strategic-planning/defence-white-paper.

Agrawal, Nimisha. 2021. “China’s Malacca Strait Dilemma.” Medium. March 25, 2021. https://nimishaagr.medium.com/chinas-malacca-strait-dilemma-59c85aaf3006.

Alfiansyah, Iqbal , and Muhammad Malufti. 2023. Review of Challenges to Underwater Sovereignty and Indonesia’s Naval Modernization. The Diplomat. 2023. https://thediplomat.com/2023/10/challenges-to-underwater-sovereignty-and-indonesias-naval-modernization/.

ANI. 2019. “Why Navy Needs a Maritime Health Doctrine | the Australian Naval Institute.” Navalinstitute.com.au. May 31, 2019. https://navalinstitute.com.au/why-navy-needs-maritime-health-doctrine/.

As’ad, Istiqomah Febrian Alda, and Regina Farah Nafilah. "Indonesia as a Global Maritime Fulcrum: Examining the Model of Indonesia-Australia Maritime Cooperation and Its Impacts to Achieve Indonesia’s Global Maritime Fulcrum Security Agenda." Hasanuddin Journal of Strategic and International Studies (HJSIS) 1, no. 1 (2022): 17-30.

Australia, Geoscience. “Ashmore and Cartier Islands.” Geoscience Australia, June 7, 2023. https://www.ga.gov.au/scientific-topics/national-location-information/dimensions/remote-offshore-territories/ashmore-and-cartier-islands.

Australia, Geoscience. “Oceans and Seas.” Geoscience Australia, June 7, 2023. https://www.ga.gov.au/scientific-topics/national-location-information/dimensions/oceans-and-seas.

Australia, Geoscience. 2023. “Australia’s Maritime Jurisdiction Map Series.” Geoscience Australia. November 10, 2023. https://www.ga.gov.au/scientific-topics/marine/jurisdiction/map-series.

Australia. 2009. Guide to Australian Maritime Security Arrangements (GAMSA). Canberra: Australian Border Protection Command.

Australia. Department Of Defence. 2013. 2013 Defence White Paper. Canberra] Australian Government, Department Of Defence.

Australia. Sea Power Centre. 2005. The Navy Contribution to Australian Maritime Operations. RAN Doctrine 2. Canberra: Sea Power Centre.

Australia. Sea Power Centre. 2010. Australian Maritime Doctrine: RAN Doctrine 1. Canberra: Defence Pub. Service.

Azam, Maryam, Aisha Shahzad, and Sadia. M. Falki. 2022. Review of Chinese Securitization of Regional Connectivity in South Asia. Journal of Xi’an Shiyou University, Natural Science Edition 18 (5): 482–502.

Bajpaee, Chietigj. “Reinvigorating India’s ‘Act East’ Policy in an Age of Renewed Power Politics.” The Pacific Review 36, no. 3 (August 12, 2022): 631–61. https://doi.org/10.1080/09512748.2022.2110609.

Bases and Establishments | Royal Australian Navy,” 2021. https://www.navy.gov.au/establishments.

Bhatt, Pooja. 2020. “China’s Gray Zone Tactics in the Indian Ocean.” South Asian Voices. March 19, 2020. https://southasianvoices.org/chinas-gray-zone-tactics-in-the-indian-ocean/.

Bolstering the Quad: The Case for a Collective Approach to Maritime Security. n.d. Www.ussc.edu.au. https://www.ussc.edu.au/bolstering-the-quad-the-case-for-a-collective-approach-to-maritime-security

Brewster, David. 2019. “The Second Sea: Australia’s Approach to the Indian Ocean and the Indo-Pacific.” JSTOR. 2019. https://www.jstor.org/stable/resrep23065.5.

Bueger, Christian. 2015. “What Is Maritime Security?” Marine Policy 53 (March): 159–64. https://doi.org/10.1016/j.marpol.2014.12.005.

Channel NewsAsia Singapore. 2023. “IN FOCUS: What the Remote Natuna Islands Reveal about Indonesia’s Stance on China,” August 6, 2023. https://www.channelnewsasia.com/asia/indonesia-china-natuna-islands-tensions-south-china-sea-geopolitics-3676876.

corporateName=Commonwealth Parliament; Address=Parliament House Canberra Contact Act, 2600; “Defending Australia in the Asia Pacific Century: Force 2030 (2009 Defence White Paper),” August 24, 2015, https://www.aph.gov.au/About_Parliament/Parliamentary_Departments/Parliamentary_Library/pubs/rp/rp1516/DefendAust/2009.

Das, By Dr Shubhamitra. “India-Australia Defence Cooperation and Collaboration in the Indo-Pacific - Australian Institute of International Affairs.” Australian Institute of International Affairs, January 31, 2023. https://www.internationalaffairs.org.au/australianoutlook/india-australia-defence-cooperation-and-collaboration-in-the-indo-pacific/.

“Defence White Paper 2013.” n.d. Apps.dtic.mil. Accessed September 5, 2023. https://apps.dtic.mil/sti/citations/ADA584368.

“Defending Australia in the Asia Pacific Century: Force 2030 (2009 Defence White Paper),” August 24, 2015. https://www.aph.gov.au/About_Parliament/Parliamentary_Departments/Parliamentary_Library/pubs/rp/rp1516/DefendAust/2009

Delhi, PIB, ed. 2021. Review of “Joint Guidance for the Australia- India Navy to Navy Relationship” Signed between Indian Navy and Australian Navy. Ministry of Defence, 2021.

Delhi, PIB, ed. 2022. Review of 38th India- Indonesia Coordinated Petrol (IND-INDO CORPAT). Azadi Ka Amrit Mahotsav. Ministry of Defense. 2022.

Evans, Damon. 2022. “Indonesia to Auction Giant East Natuna Block Again.” Energy Voice. December 1, 2022. https://www.energyvoice.com/oilandgas/asia/465496/indonesia-to-auction-giant-east-natuna-block-again/.

Force, Australian Air. 2017. “Bases.” Www.airforce.gov.au. November 13, 2017. https://www.airforce.gov.au/about-us/bases.

Forward Defense Experts. 2022. “Today’s Wars Are Fought in the ‘Gray Zone.’ Here’s Everything You Need to Know about It.” Atlantic Council. February 23, 2022. https://www.atlanticcouncil.org/blogs/new-atlanticist/todays-wars-are-fought-in-the-gray-zone-heres-everything-you-need-to-know-about-it/.

Graham, Euan. 2016. Australia’s 2016 Defense White Paper.

Guorui, Tom, Sun, and Asia Programme. 2017. “CHINA’S TWO OCEAN STRATEGY: Controlling Waterways and the New Silk Road ASIA FOCUS #31 L’IRIS.” https://www.iris-france.org/wp-content/uploads/2017/05/Asia-Focus-31.pdf.

Gurjar, Sankalp. 2023. “Why India Needs to Gear up for China Challenge in Eastern Indian Ocean.” Strategic News Global. April 17, 2023. https://stratnewsglobal.com/articles/why-india-needs-to-gear-up-for-china-challenge-in-eastern-indian-ocean/.

Huang, Tiger. “India’s Maritime Wall in the Indo-Pacific Region — SIR Journal.” SIR Journal, July 2, 2019. http://www.sirjournal.org/research/2019/7/1/indias-maritime-wall-in-the-indo-pacific-region.

IILSS. 2021. “Navigational Regimes of Particular Straits, Sunda and Lombok Case Study.” IILSS-International Institute for Law of the Sea Studies. April 24, 2021. https://iilss.net/navigational-regimes-of-particular-straits-sunda-and-lombok-case-study/.

“India - Australia Maritime Patrol Reconnaissance Aircraft (Mpra) Coordinated Operations.” 2022. Pib.gov.in. Accessed November 29, 2023. https://pib.gov.in/PressReleaseIframePage.aspx?PRID=1815846.

“India’s Maritime Wall in the Indo-Pacific Region — SIR Journal.” SIR Journal, July 2, 2019. http://www.sirjournal.org/research/2019/7/1/indias-maritime-wall-in-the-indo-pacific-region.

“Indian Navy Participates in 5th ‘AUSINDEX-23’ Held in Australia.” n.d. Accessed November 29, 2023. https://sarkaripariksha.com/current-affairs/indian-navy-participates-in-5th-ausindex-23-held-in-australia/.

“Indian Submarine INS Sindhukesari Docks in Indonesia amid South China Sea Tensions.” 2023. Cnbctv18.com. February 24, 2023. https://www.cnbctv18.com/world/indian-submarine-ins-sindhukesari-docks-in-indonesia-amid-south-china-sea-tensions-16024911.htm.

“INS Satpura and P8 I Maritime Patrol Aircraft Arrive in Darwin, Australia to Participate in Multinational Naval Ex Kakadu.” n.d. Pib.gov.in. Accessed November 29, 2023. https://pib.gov.in/PressReleaseIframePage.aspx?PRID=1858965.

“Joint Declaration on a Shared Vision for Maritime Cooperation in the Indo-Pacific between the Republic of India and the Government of Australia.” n.d. Australian Government Department of Foreign Affairs and Trade. https://www.dfat.gov.au/geo/india/joint-declaration-shared-vision-maritime-cooperation-indo-pacific-between-republic-india-and-government-australia.

Kahn, Lauren. 2023. “AUKUS Explained: How Will the Trilateral Pact Shape Indo-Pacific Security?” Council on Foreign Relations. June 12, 2023. https://www.cfr.org/in-brief/aukus-explained-how-will-trilateral-pact-shape-indo-pacific-security.

Kuper, Stephen. “Australia Expands Regional Security Co-Operation with Malaysia Investment.” Defence Connect, November 9, 2022. https://www.defenceconnect.com.au/joint-capabilities/2477-australia-expands-regional-security-cooperation-with-malaysia-investment.

“Maritime Exercise 2022Ions (IMEX 22),” n.d. https://pib.gov.in/PressReleasePage.aspx?PRID=1811590.

McBeth, John. 2023. “Indonesia Moving to Keep China at Bay in Natuna Sea.” Asia Times, January 23, 2023. https://asiatimes.com/2023/01/indonesia-moving-to-keep-china-at-bay-in-natuna-sea/.

McBeth, John. 2023. “Indonesia Moving to Keep China at Bay in Natuna Sea.” Asia Times, January 23, 2023. https://asiatimes.com/2023/01/indonesia-moving-to-keep-china-at-bay-in-natuna-sea/.

“Natuna – Midway of South China Sea.” 2014. Coffee and Bullets. April 8, 2014. https://coffeenbullets.wordpress.com/2014/04/08/natuna-midway-of-south-china-sea/.

“Oceans and Seas.” Geoscience Australia, June 7, 2023. https://www.ga.gov.au/scientific-topics/national-location-information/dimensions/oceans-and-seas.

“ORF.” 2023. ORF. Accessed November 29, 2023. https://www.orfonline.org/expert-speak/indias-growing-strategic-footprint-in-the-indo-pacific/

Oratmangun,CGTN, Djauhari. n.d. “The Renewal Synergy of Indonesia’s GMF and China’s BRI.” News.cgtn.com. Accessed November 29, 2023. https://news.cgtn.com/news/2023-03-10/The-renewal-synergy-of-Indonesia-s-GMF-and-China-s-BRI-1i1U4U1cH2E/index.html.

Panneerselvam, Prakash. 2022. China’s Emerging Subsurface Presence in the Indian Ocean. 2022. https://thediplomat.com/2022/12/chinas-emerging-subsurface-presence-in-the-indian-ocean/.

Pioneer, Daily, ed. 2021. Review of Chinese Trawlers Jeopardise India’s Maritime Security. DRYAD Global. 2021. https://channel16.dryadglobal.com/chinese-trawlers-jeopardise-indias-maritime-security.

Pittaway, Nigel. “Comprehensive Upgrade Works to Northern Bases ‘Imperative.’” Theaustralian.Com.Au, May 24, 2023. https://www.theaustralian.com.au/special-reports/comprehensive-upgrade-works-to-northern-bases-imperative/news-story/34b3e6a3798a09453c166113bef23b02.

Pradeep, R. Seshadri Vasan, and Rishi Athreya. 2016. Securing India's Maritime Neighbourhood. Vij Books India Pvt Ltd.

Ratcliffe, Rebecca, and south-east Asia correspondent. 2023. “Military Construction on Myanmar’s Great Coco Island Prompts Fears of Chinese Involvement.” The Guardian, May 1, 2023, sec. World news. https://www.theguardian.com/world/2023/may/01/military-construction-on-myanmars-great-coco-island-prompts-fears-of-chinese-involvement.

Reuters. 2020. “India and Australia Sign Military Base and Cyber Accords,” June 4, 2020, sec. Emerging Markets. https://www.reuters.com/article/us-india-australia-idUSKBN23B0LC.

Review of 2020 Defence Strategic Update. 2021. Australia: Shape. Deter. Respond. https://www.globalsecurity.org/military/library/report/2020/australia-2020-factsheet_strategic_update.pdf.

Review of Andaman and Nicobar Can Lift India’s Maritime Capacity. 2023. ORF. Observer Research Foundation. 2023.

Review of Chinese-Built Tibar Bay Deepwater Port in Timor-Leste Officially Opens. 2022. CLbrief. 2022. https://www.clbrief.com/chinese-built-tibar-bay-deepwater-port-in-timor-leste-officially-opens/.

Review of PENANG GIS PROJECT. 2021. https://publicadministration.un.org/unpsa/Portals/0/UNPSA_Submitted_Docs/2018/89C11979-B22E-4DFB-9F2E-F7C7A5380A32/PenangGIS%20Project.pdf?ver=2018-02-26-044830-580#:~:text=Penang%20is%20a%20state%20located,km%20(405%20sq%20mi).

Royal Australian Navy. “Australian Maritime Operations (2017) | Royal Australian Navy,” n.d. https://www.navy.gov.au/media-room/publications/australian-maritime-operations-2017.

RUSLI, Mohd Hazmi Mohd. "The Legality Of Passage Of Nuclear-powered Submarines: Are Malaysia And Indonesia In Catch-22?." Moscow Journal of International Law (2022).

Sahay, Usha. “The Andaman and Nicobar Islands: India’s Eastern Anchor in a Changing Indo-Pacific.” War on the Rocks, March 20, 2018. https://warontherocks.com/2018/03/the-andaman-and-nicobar-islands-indias-eastern-anchor-in-a-changing-indo-pacific/.

“Semaphore: Australia’s Need for Sea Control | Royal Australian Navy,” n.d. https://www.navy.gov.au/media-room/publications/semaphore-09-07.

Sharma, Ateet. 2023. “First Submarine Visit to Australia Spotlights Expansion of India’s Indo-Pacific Footprint.”

Indianarrative. August 21, 2023. https://www.indianarrative.com/world-news/first-submarine-visit-to-australia-spotlights-expansion-of-indias-indo-pacific-footprint-150341.html.

Shugart, Thomas. 2021. “Australia and the Growing Reach of China’s Military.” JSTOR. 2021. https://www.jstor.org/stable/resrep34851?typeAccessWorkflow=login.

SUN, T. (2023). https://www.iris-france.org/wp-content/uploads/2017/05/Asia-Focus-31.pdf [Review of https://www.iris-france.org/wp-content/uploads/2017/05/Asia-Focus-31.pdf]. Asia Program. https://www.iris-france.org/wp-content/uploads/2017/05/Asia-Focus-31.pdf

Sutton, H. I. 2021. “China’s Surprise Submarine Move Shows Its Growing Power.” Naval News. December 29, 2021. https://www.navalnews.com/naval-news/2021/12/chinas-surprise-submarine-move-shows-its-growing-power/#:~:text=When%20a%20Chinese%20submarine%20entered.

“The Importance of Sea Geopolitics: The Case of East Timor.” n.d. SIR Journal. http://www.sirjournal.org/research/2017/11/18/the-importance-of-sea-geopolitics-the-case-of-east-timor.

“Woodside/Sunrise Articles.” 2023. Www.laohamutuk.org. Accessed November 29, 2023.

https://www.laohamutuk.org/OilWeb/Company/Woodside/WoodsideArticles.htm.

United States Central Intelligence Agency. Indian Ocean area. [Washington, D.C.: Central Intelligence Agency, 1986] Map. https://www.loc.gov/item/86695650/

Vego, Dr Milan. 2009. Review of Naval Classical Thinkers and Operational Art. Https://Apps.dtic.mil/Sti/Pdfs/AD1014479.Pdf.

Yuen Yee, William. 2023. “Ten Years On, How Is the Belt and Road Initiative Faring in Indonesia?” Jamestown, March 3, 2023. https://jamestown.org/program/ten-years-on-how-is-the-belt-and-road-initiative-faring-in-indonesia/.

Zhang, Anson. 2023. “Why Does China Claim Almost the Entire South China Sea?” Www.aljazeera.com. October 24, 2023. https://www.aljazeera.com/news/2023/10/24/why-does-china-claim-almost-the-entire-south-china-sea.

Indonesia-Australia Maritime Security: Challenges and Cooperation Pusjianmar Seskoal and Sea Power Center – Australia Team. Seskoal Press.

Downloads

Published

30-06-2024

How to Cite

Imtiaz, A., & Qazi, D. M. S. . (2024). Maritime Security Challenges in the Indian Ocean: Australia’s Maritime Security amid the Sandison’s Vulnerability. Journal of Nautical Eye and Strategic Studies, 4(1), 132–186. https://doi.org/10.58932/MULG0035

Issue

Section

Articles