China and India are competing for the similar strategic space in Asia. Some analysts believe that a potentially dangerous security situation is developing between In particular, strategic competition is likely to be played out, largely in the Indian Ocean (McClam, 2016, p.57). Both China and India have employed the alternative grand strategy, offshore balancing , in securing their economic, strategic, and military interests in the ocean. To spread its leverage from Iran to Myanmar and Vietnam, India is undertaking trade agreements, military exercises, energy cooperation with, and direct investment and infrastructure building in the littoral states of the Indian Ocean, even though India lies geographically astride the major sea lanes of communication (SLOCs) in the Indian Ocean (Scott, 2006, p.
100). In contrast, in order to secure its strategic interest and energy flowing through Indian Ocean, China has developing political, economic, and military relations in the Indian Ocean region, including its de facto alliance with Pakistan and Myanmar, and positive political, economic, and military relations with Bangladesh, Sri Lanka, and eastern African countries (Cordner, 2011, p. 75). two great Asian powers: China and India (Tellis & Mirski, 2013, p.145).
