Nestled between the islands of Java and Sumatra in Indonesia, the Sunda Strait is a vital maritime passage connecting the Indian Ocean to the Java Sea and, by extension, the South China Sea and the Pacific Ocean.
Its significance in geopolitics, geoeconomics, and geostrategy cannot be overstated.
The Sunda Strait serves as a crucial alternative to the heavily trafficked Strait of Malacca.
While the Malacca Strait is the primary shipping route for vessels traveling between the Indian and Pacific Oceans, its high traffic density and narrow width make it susceptible to congestion, piracy, and geopolitical tension.
In contrast, the Sunda Strait, though less utilised, offers a strategic detour for ships, particularly in times of conflict or crisis in the Malacca Strait.
From a geopolitical perspective, control and security of the Sunda Strait are paramount.
Indonesia, as the archipelagic nation governing these waters, plays a critical role in ensuring the safe passage of global maritime trade through this route.
The strategic importance of the Sunda Strait is heightened by the fact that it lies within a region that is witnessing significant power struggles and military posturing, particularly between the United States and China.
Geoeconomically, the Sunda Strait is a conduit for significant volumes of global trade.
It is part of the network of sea lanes through which energy supplies, commodities, and manufactured goods flow between the East and the West.
The strait's role in global trade underscores its economic significance, making it a critical point of interest for nations dependent on maritime commerce.
The strait's strategic importance also brings into focus issues of piracy and maritime security.
Indonesia has taken steps to secure its waters, but the threat of piracy remains a concern, impacting the cost of transportation and insurance for shipping companies.
Effective maritime security in the Sunda Strait is essential for maintaining the smooth flow of international trade and ensuring the economic stability of the region.
In terms of geostrategy, the Sunda Strait's relevance is amplified by its potential role in naval strategy and military logistics.
In the event of heightened regional tensions or conflicts, the strait could serve as a critical route for military vessels and a strategic choke point that could influence the balance of power in the Indo-Pacific.
The United States, with its significant naval presence in the region, along with its allies, closely monitors and ensures the security of such critical waterways.
Moreover, the Sunda Strait's strategic value is not lost on China, whose Belt and Road Initiative includes plans for enhancing maritime infrastructure across the IndoPacific.
China's growing naval capabilities and its assertive posture in the South China Sea have significant implications for the security dynamics of the Sunda Strait.
Indonesia's role as a key player in the Indo-Pacific security architecture becomes even more vital in this context.
The interplay between the Sunda Strait and the broader issues of freedom of navigation and maritime sovereignty is another crucial aspect.
The strait lies at the heart of regional disputes over territorial waters and the right to unimpeded passage.
Ensuring freedom of navigation through the Sunda Strait is essential for upholding international maritime law and maintaining regional stability.
In a nutshell, the Sunda Strait exemplifies the concept that "geography is destiny."
Its strategic location makes it a linchpin in the complex matrix of geopolitics, geoeconomics, and geostrategy in the Indo-Pacific.
The strait's significance is underscored by its role as an alternative maritime route, its economic importance in global trade, and its strategic value in military logistics and regional security.
As power dynamics in the region continue to evolve, the Sunda Strait will remain a focal point of strategic interest, influencing the geopolitical landscape of the 21st century.
Strategic importance of Sabang, the Andaman and Nicobar Islands
These locations are key players in the complex interplay of geopolitics, geoeconomics, and geostrategy in the Indo-Pacific region, particularly concerning the Strait of Malacca and the South China Sea.
The Andaman and Nicobar Islands, an Indian archipelago, sit at the crossroads of crucial maritime routes.
Their strategic position provides India with a vantage point to monitor and potentially control the eastern entry to the Strait of Malacca.
This capability is a significant asset in ensuring the security of maritime traffic in one of the world's busiest shipping lanes, which sees a significant portion of global trade and energy supplies pass through.
The Andaman and Nicobar Islands play a critical role in India's Act East Policy, which aims to strengthen ties with Southeast Asian nations and counterbalance China's Belt and Road Initiative. These islands serve as a forward operating base for the Indian Navy, enhancing its ability to project power and ensure maritime security.
Similarly, Indonesia's development of Sabang reflects its strategic vision of enhancing maritime connectivity and security.
Sabang, Indonesia, located on the northern tip of Sumatra near the entrance of the Malacca Strait, further underscores the strategic importance of this region.
Indonesia's decision to develop Sabang as a maritime hub, with facilities for both commercial and naval vessels, enhances its role in regional security and trade.
This development can serve as a counterbalance to China's growing influence in the South China Sea and its efforts to address the "Malacca Dilemma," a term describing China's vulnerability due to its heavy reliance on the strait for energy imports.
In this intricate dance of geopolitics, geoeconomics, and geostrategy, the Andaman and Nicobar Islands and Sabang, Indonesia, stand as pivotal points.
Their strategic importance underscores the broader geopolitical chess game, where the balance of power and the quest for dominance continually reshape the contours of global relations.
The U.S. military presence in the region, along with partnerships with regional allies, serves as a bulwark against potential conflicts, ensuring that these vital maritime routes remain open and secure.
Freedom of Navigation operations (FONOPs) conducted by the United States and its allies in the Strait of Malacca and the South China Sea are crucial for maintaining the free flow of commerce and countering excessive maritime claims.
The U.S. Navy's presence, bolstered by bases in Japan, Okinawa, and partnerships such as AUKUS (Australia, United Kingdom, United States), underscores America's commitment to regional stability.
These operations reassure regional allies and deter potential aggression, ensuring that these vital maritime routes remain open.
The Thucydides Trap, the idea that a rising power inevitably clashes with an established one, is evident in the dynamic between the U.S. and China in these waters.
China's expansive claims in the South China Sea, delineated by the ninedash line, overlap with the Exclusive Economic Zones (EEZs) of several Southeast Asian nations, including Taiwan, the Philippines, Vietnam, Brunei, and Malaysia.
These overlapping claims create a volatile environment where strategic ambiguity and power projection become the norm.
Piracy in the Strait of Malacca remains a concern, necessitating international cooperation to ensure the safety of commercial vessels.
The potential construction of a canal across Thailand's Isthmus of Kra is often discussed as a way to bypass the strait, but such a project would require massive investment and faces significant geopolitical challenges.
Greyzone initiatives
Greyzone initiatives involving India and China typically involve actions taken by both countries to pursue their strategic objectives while avoiding direct military
conflict.
These initiatives often manifest in various forms, such as territorial assertiveness, economic coercion, information warfare, and support for proxy actors.
For India and China, the greyzone is particularly relevant in their disputed border regions, such as along the Line of Actual Control (LAC) in the Himalayas.
Both countries have engaged in periodic standoffs and skirmishes in these areas, where they seek to assert control or influence without escalating into full-scale war.
These incidents often involve troop movements, infrastructure development near the border, and occasional clashes, highlighting the greyzone nature of their competition.
Economically, greyzone initiatives between India and China can involve trade policies, investment strategies, and economic partnerships aimed at enhancing influence in neighboring regions and beyond.
Both countries leverage economic ties to strengthen their geopolitical positions while simultaneously navigating competition and cooperation dynamics.
Information warfare is another aspect where greyzone initiatives come into play.
Both India and China have active strategies involving propaganda, media manipulation, and influence operations aimed at shaping domestic and international perceptions, particularly regarding contentious issues like border disputes, regional alliances, and global leadership.
Indeed, greyzone initiatives can extend to diplomatic maneuvers and strategic alignments with other countries or regional organizations.
Both India and China engage in partnerships and alignments that serve their interests while seeking to balance regional power dynamics and global influence.
Overall, greyzone initiatives between India and China reflect their complex relationship, characterized by competition, cooperation, and occasional confrontation across multiple domains.
These initiatives highlight the evolving nature of geopolitical competition in the Indo-Pacific region and underscore the importance of nuanced strategies and diplomatic engagements to manage tensions and promote stability.
Economist Samirul Ariff Othman is an international relations analyst and a senior consultant with Global Asia Consulting (GAC). Samirul has a background as a senior researcher at the Malaysian Institute of Economic Research. The viewpoints articulated are solely those of the author.