''China over the past one decade has been silently struggling to enhance its influence around the Strait of Hormuz''

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"What sends ripples of anxiety through Washington and New Delhi is the Chinese naval presence near the Strait of Hormuz."


On the other hand, China over the past one decade has been silently struggling to enhance its influence around the Strait of Hormuz by increasing its presence in Pakistan’s prize port at Gwadar in Balochistan. India has a presence in Iran’s Chahbahar port, which is likely to emerge as a tough competitor to the Chinese-built Gwadar port.


The announcement regarding plans of a Chinese naval base from Pakistan’s defence minister came a day after Pakistan’s Prime Minister Yusuf Raza Gilani returned from a visit to China in May 2011. Beijing, however, denied such a plan, probably to avoid indulging in any controversy for the time being. A naval base in Gwadar could enable China to monitor naval patrols by the US."