The Costliest Pearl: China’s Struggle for India’s Ocean

by Bertil Lintner

The Indian Ocean’s strategic importance to China cannot be underestimated, given the oil, African minerals and container traffic that pass through it. Yet, until now, China has been absent from the region since Admiral Zheng Ze. In the fifteenth century, Zheng’s fleet had sailed through these waters, exploring and mapping, in a bid to extend the Celestial Empire’s trading and tributary system. Beijing’s re-entry into the Indian Ocean after 600 years is part of Xi Jinping’s ‘Belt and Road’ megaproject. He is investing trillions of dollars in infrastructure projects around the Ocean rim, including a military base in Djibouti. This has touched off a new and dangerous confrontation. Ranged against China is an informal alliance of India, the US, France, Australia, and, predictably, Japan—Beijing’s archrival in the Asia–Pacific. Bertil Lintner unearths this dramatic story, profiling the key players, examining the economic and naval balance of power, and scrutinising New Delhi and Beijing’s intense competition for the allegiance of small island nations. China is in the Indian Ocean for the long haul, and the entry of big-power politics into this sensitive maritime region will shape its future for decades to come.

Genres: China, Nonfiction, Asia

290 pages, Kindle Edition

Published May 31, 2019

Reviews

[Rajat Ubhaykar · Rating 4 out of 5]

Learnt a great deal about the history and geopolitics of the Indian Ocean region, and about China's rising footprint in this area. Recommended.

[Deepanshu Aggarwal · Rating 4 out of 5]

The book talks about an emerging global security challenge in the Indian Ocean, wherein China, aiming to reclaim its 'lost glory', is aggressively forging partnerships with coastal and oceanic island-nations to become a hegemonic Ocean power. Pitted against China is the de-facto power in the region - India, joined by the US, Japan, Australia and France due to their geopolitical compulsions and fears over a 'rising China'. The book goes into historical details to give the reader a deeper understanding of the issue. Loaded with facts, compelling and non-sensationalising writing style, The Costliest Pearl is a must read book for those interested in diplomacy/security in general and India/Indian Ocean/China in particular.

[Piyush Behera · Rating 4 out of 5]

A informative book. But somewhere I felt it's too mundane. First part was interesting. In the second part the book seems to be dragging. So 4stars.

[M J · Rating 4 out of 5]

Please note the title of the book " The Costliest Pearl : China's struggle for India's ocean" and not Indian Ocean.

The authour takes you round the Indian Ocean, from Myanmar to Bangladesh to Andaman to Lakshadweep to Pakistan to Mauritius etc and explains how China is trying to establish its influence. China has realised that the Russian method to trying to invade a country militarily has not been successful and hence is trying an open cheque book policy by which they invest heavily in smalll unstable countries in and around the Indian Ocean and thereby get them under their control.

You get to know the history of each of these countries in great detail from their discovery to the current political setup in which China is trying to have a say.

A book of great depth, profound research and very fascinating anecdotes, I recommend this to all.

[Sharang Limaye · Rating 4 out of 5]

Interesting look at India's neighbourhood and how Chinese tentacles are wrapping themselves around these nations. Some may find Lintner's account alarming. It was thought-provoking for this reader. The author puts a lot of details for every country covered here (the piece on Vietnam stands out). In fact, the detailing in some places tends to overwhelm the central thought. Another downer for some may be the lack of insight into China's motivations. Still, these would be minor blemishes in an otherwise very recommendable publication.

[Rain Walker · Rating 3 out of 5]

There is some interesting knowledge about those islands and countries in the Indian ocean. 作者分享了一些观点, 但是需要得到一些验证. 有关中国和其他国家的联盟的冲突将会是在印度洋, 而中国通过军事强权和经济贸易渗透达到控制国家主权的目的. Very interesting thoughts but need to verify them.

[Yannick M · Rating 2 out of 5]

This book should not have been longer than 100 pages.

[MADHAV GOKHALE · Rating 4 out of 5]

Very Good Book

Otherwise excellent book
Lacks explanatory maps
Should contain a summary at end of each chapter
This will enhance the value for students

[Abhishek Prakash · Rating 4 out of 5]

Informative and well researched.
Good for reference.

[Seena Vishnu · Rating 5 out of 5]

So much of detailed analysis. So much of research. What a book!

[Jay · Rating 3 out of 5]

A compelling read on China, India and the Indian Ocean. The author offers several perspectives in a short book on a pressing topic and one of immense strategic and security concern for the two rising Asian giants.

Recommended for scholars, academicians, researchers, and even casual enthusiasts of the gargantuan maritime expanse of the Indian Ocean vis-à-vis China, India and several other countries of the region.