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Recently, it was reported that China has officially leased Grand Koko Island and Little Koko Island at the southern tip of Myanmar at the end of 2022, with contracts valid for 30 years. The two islands are connected by a seawall and high-standard roads built in them. A 2,500-meter-long runway has appeared on Dakoko Island, and hangars and radar bases have been built to support the activities of the Chinese Navy. The move sparked a backlash from India, which is adamantly opposed to China's new military base in Myanmar.
The Coco Islands are an island group located southwest of Yangon Province in Myanmar, with an extremely important geographical location, bordered by the Andaman Sea to the east, the Andaman and Nicobar Islands of India to the south, and the Bay of Bengal to the west. This area has been attracting attention because it is located in the heart of the Strait of Malacca, a major maritime trade route for China and neighboring countries.
The Strait of Malacca, as China's maritime lifeline, plays a vital role. China relies on maritime transport for most of its foreign trade, and the Strait of Malacca is key to the South China Sea route. The South China Sea is complex and narrow, but it is one of the key routes for China's trade with the rest of the world. Therefore, this strait is crucial not only for China, but also for Southeast Asian countries such as Japan and South Korea. The United States is also fully aware of this, so it has established the Changi Naval Base in Singapore, located at the eastern entrance of the Strait of Malacca, in order to control the entire strait if necessary.
In addition to the United States, India is also actively expanding in the Indian Ocean region, especially the Andaman Islands. Not far from the Strait of Malacca, the Andaman Islands are India's only tri-service command where the navy, air force and army work together to enhance maritime surveillance capabilities.
China chose to build a military base in the Coco Islands mainly to ensure the safety of its trade through the Strait of Malacca. The island is located southeast of the Strait of Malacca, about 877 kilometers from the Strait of Malacca, within the combat radius of Chinese warplanes. This means that China can respond quickly and protect its interests. At the same time, the site can also maintain China's China-Myanmar oil and gas corridors and ensure China's energy supply.
India has expressed strong opposition to China's construction of the Coco Islands and hyped up its threat to India. They fear that China's construction of military bases in the region could threaten India's control in the Strait of Malacca and the Bay of Bengal. Some Indian military officers have even openly stated that they want to "seize the Coco Islands by force."
The Indian media also reported on the matter and made some interesting points. They believe that the Indian government is not paying enough attention to the eastern strategy, especially in the Andaman and Nicobar Islands region. The article called for increased military deployment in the Andaman Islands, with a particular focus on China's military buildup in the Coco Islands.
To sum up, the lease rights of the Coco Islands belong to China, and the facilities built by China here are mainly to defend its own interests. India's concerns are understandable, but disputes should be resolved through dialogue and diplomacy. In the current complex international environment, it is a matter of course that China needs to protect its sea lanes and trade interests. At the same time, China also needs to maintain stable relations with neighboring countries to ensure regional peace and prosperity.
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