The island hopping game being played out is an indication of China’s strategy for gaining access to the IOR by developing the capabilities of “reach”, “presence” and “sustainability”.

In recent years the Chinese People’s Liberation Army (PLA) has been undergoing a series of transformations at various levels in keeping with its changed military doctrine which emphasises upon fighting `local wars under conditions of informationalisation`.

Competing claims and reports of oil and gas rich fields in the South China Sea have woven a complicated web affecting the maritime security environment.

China’s development of a space station is not only for the purpose of scientific experimentation but also to showcase its technological and economic strength.

There is no point in acting with bravado when we do not have the necessary military capacity to take on the Chinese in the South China Seas.

China’s launch of Pakistan’s first communications satellite demonstrates a deepening of their technological cooperation.

It remains to be seen how far China is able to manage the challenges of providing space for religious and cultural freedom while enabling equitable economic development for all ethnic groups.