If the recent India-Pakistan conflict has revealed anything, it is how much stake China had in the clashes. Though not directly involved, China used Pakistan as a testing ground against India, advertising its weapons and to test India’s defence system.

But, China’s India tactic isn’t anything new. Geopolitical experts have observed how China has been ramping up pressure on India, sandwiching it via a “string of pearls” in the South and coercive tactics in the North. It is also using Pakistan in the West and luring Bangladesh in the East as a means to encircle India. All these while keeping the Sino-Indian border dispute simmering to keep India restless.

But, observers say India is not passively enduring all. Experts from the Australian Institute of International Affairs have elaborated how New Delhi has been quietly asserting its influence in the region through a “multifaceted and deliberate foreign policy”, which they encapsulated in the acronym “MIDWIFE” as opposed to China’s “MIDLIFE” strategy.

As per experts, China has a “MIDLIFE” strategy against its global rival — the United States. This involves Military, Intelligence, Diplomacy, Legal, Identity, Financial and Economic efforts.

In contrast, India’s ‘MIDWIFE’ approach encompasses Multipolarity, Indo-Pacific Strategy, Demography, Washington, Indian Ocean, Foreign Direct Investment, and English, according to the report by Professor Patrick Mendis, presidential advisor to the National Security Education Board at the US Department of Defense, and Professor Antonina Luszczykiewicz-Mendis, a visiting scholar at the University of Oxford China Centre.

Multipolarity: By championing multipolarity, Delhi aims to strengthen its strategic autonomy in global affairs. By rebranding its Non-Aligned Movement approach, India has upgraded friendly realtors with regional powers, irrespective of their political and ideological orientation. The reluctance of India to form a military alliance is a feature of this policy.

From accelerating innovation through cutting-edge incubators to scaling partnerships that redefine industry standards, the U.S.-India partnership is driving prosperity across the Indo-Pacific. This May, we spotlight game-changing collaborations like TRUST, the NEXUS Incubator… pic.twitter.com/PgYz49lowK — U.S. Consulate Kolkata (@USAndKolkata) May 5, 2025

Indo-Pacific strategy: For India, the Indo-Pacific is no longer a restricted area, since how Japanese Prime Minister Abe Shinzo lured Prime Minister Narendra Modi to adopt the vision of the ‘free and open Indo-Pacific’ (FOIP) framework. India is now a member of the Quadrilateral Security Dialogue (Quad) with Australia, Japan, and the United States.

Professor Mendis and Professor Luszczykiewicz-Mendis cite India’s expanding presence in the South China Sea as an example which includes India-Indonesia ties in defence, Delhi’s pact with the Philippines to supply BrahMos missile, Indian Navy training of Vietnamese forces at the Cam Ranh Bay.

Demography: India has a demographic advantage in contrast with China’s ageing population. “Equally important is the role of the dynamically growing Indian diaspora, composed of highly-skilled professionals and outstanding students—not just in English-speaking countries like the United States and the United Kingdom, but also in countries like Poland and Taiwan,” the author adds.

Washington: The United States remains India’s most indispensable ally and the countries have increased defence ties. The Indian government’s rapport with the successive Democratic and Republican administrations demonstrates the continuity of bilateral engagement.

Indian Ocean: India has been considered the guardian of the Indian Ocean, a position endorsed by the US. India is also reviving foreign relations with key maritime neighbours like Sri Lanka and Maldives. The report also mentions how India is using the strategic location of its Andaman Islands to monitor China’s “scientific” seabed surveys and navigational activities across the deep waters.

A proud and historic moment for us all: Sri Lankan President Anura Kumara Dissanayake has announced that Prime Minister Narendra Modi will be conferred with the country’s highest civilian honour—the Sri Lanka Mitra Vibhushana. He stated, “Prime Minister Modi highly deserves this… pic.twitter.com/71e0UL6Oct — SPMRF (@spmrfoundation) April 5, 2025

Foreign direct investment: India is attempting to challenge the ‘Made in China’ manufacturing sector via the ‘Make in India’ initiative. It aims to attract foreign investment to reduce Indian dependence on trading with China and to boost technological self-reliance.

English: India has an edge over China with its mastery of English and has been leveraging its linguistic alignment with the global marketplace, to conduct diplomacy and encourage student mobility.

New Delhi: In a move that is likely to raise strategic concerns in New Delhi, the Maldives has reportedly granted Chinese marine research vessels access to its territorial waters under a new agreement with China’s South China Sea Institute of Oceanography (SCSIO), signed on February 19, 2025.

The deal, which expands scientific cooperation between the two nations, comes at a time when India has been increasingly wary of China’s growing footprint in the Indian Ocean Region (IOR). While officially framed as a partnership for environmental research and marine conservation, the presence of Chinese vessels in Maldivian waters will spark apprehensions over potential dual-use applications, particularly in the realm of maritime security and intelligence gathering.

According to a report in the Maldivian news portal Raajje.mv, although Maldivian President Mohamed Muizzu has assured the people of the Indian Ocean archipelago nation of their right to access marine resources, the lack of transparency in agreements signed between Male and Beijing “necessitates a second look at this matter”.

“The government, which came to power promising transparency, has not yet provided full details about the scope of China’s research activities,” the report stated.

It is worth mentioning here that India has strongly been protesting the repeated visits by Chinese vessels to the waters of the south Indian Ocean, a region New Delhi considers to be under its sphere of influence, ostensibly for research purposes.

Last week, it was reported that the Muizzu government has been engaging in discussions with China regarding the placement of fish aggregating devices (FADs) on Maldivian fishers’ ships in the Indian Ocean. Reports suggested that these devices will collect chemical and physical data from the ocean, as well as track fish movements.

“The Muizzu administration has held these discussions with China at a time when the Maldivian fishing industry is on a downward spiral,” the Raajje.mv report stated. “Although the Ministry of Fisheries and Ocean Resources has not disclosed specific details about the meeting, they have stated that the discussions primarily focused on strengthening cooperation.”

India has repeatedly expressed its apprehensions regarding the presence of Chinese research vessels in the IOR, particularly in proximity to its maritime boundaries. The deployment of advanced Chinese research vessels, such as the Xiang Yang Hong 03, has been a focal point of these concerns. This vessel, described as one of the most advanced in China’s fleet, spent a month in Maldivian waters in early 2024, prompting unease among Indian authorities.

The core of India’s concern lies in the dual-use nature of such research activities. While these vessels ostensibly conduct civilian marine research, the data collected, such as seabed mapping and oceanographic information, has significant military applications. This information can enhance submarine navigation, improve anti-submarine warfare capabilities, and inform strategic naval deployments. China’s extensive seabed mapping efforts beyond its own waters have been perceived as efforts to gain a strategic edge in naval warfare, raising alarms among neighbouring countries, including India.

Furthermore, the installation of research devices on FADs could potentially serve dual purposes. While intended for scientific research, there are concerns that these devices could be used for surveillance or intelligence-gathering activities, thereby enhancing China’s maritime domain awareness in the region.

The diplomatic relationship between India and the Maldives experienced significant fluctuations following the election of Muizzu as President in November 2023. Initially strained due to Muizzu’s ‘India Out’ campaign and perceived pro-China stance, the ties have since seen a notable improvement through strategic engagements and mutual concessions.

Upon assuming office, President Muizzu requested the withdrawal of Indian military personnel stationed in the Maldives, a move that strained bilateral relations. This action was perceived as a pivot towards China, especially considering Muizzu’s early official visits to Turkey and China, bypassing India – a departure from the tradition of Maldivian presidents making India their first foreign destination for a state visit. The situation was further exacerbated by derogatory remarks about Indian Prime Minister Narendra Modi made by Maldivian officials, leading to social media conflicts between citizens of both nations.

Despite the initial tensions, both countries recognised the importance of mending ties. India extended financial support to the Maldives, including a $100-million treasury bills rollover and a $400-million currency swap agreement, aiming to stabilise the Maldivian. Additionally, the Maldives addressed internal issues by accepting the resignations of officials who had disparaged the Indian leadership, signalling a willingness to improve diplomatic relations.

In a significant move towards reconciliation, President Muizzu visited India in October last year, where he engaged in talks with Prime Minister Modi. The discussions culminated in India’s announcement of a $760-million bailout for the Maldives, comprising $400 million in currency swaps and ₹30 billion ($357 million) offered by the Reserve Bank of India. This financial assistance was pivotal in preventing a sovereign default for the Maldives, whose foreign exchange reserves had plummeted to approximately $36 million in September. President Muizzu acknowledged India’s crucial role in the Maldives’ development, marking a positive shift in bilateral relations.

It is in light of all this that the reports about the Maldives allowing Chinese marine research vessels into its territorial waters raise questions about Male’s diplomatic priorities.

“See, Muizzu has been pro-China from the very beginning,” Anand Kumar, Associate Fellow at the Manohar Parrikar Institute of Defence Studies and Analyses and author of the book Multi-party Democracy in the Maldives and the Emerging Security Environment in the Indian Ocean Region, told ETV Bharat. “But he mellowed down because of the economic pressure his country came under after he assumed charge.”

Kumar said that for Muizzu, it was a tactical move to mend ties with India just to pass through the economic crisis to some extent.

“But there is no change in Muizzu’s foreign policy,” he said. “Since the Maldives also receives aid from China, Beijing is able to put pressure on Male. It is possible that Muizzu is forced to concede ground to China.”

Asked whether the reported allowing of entry of Chinese ships into Maldivian waters will be a cause of concern for New Delhi, Kumar said: “We don’t know what kind of information China is trying to gather. Obviously, it will be a cause of concern for India. The oceanographic studies will gather data about seabeds for navigational movements of Chinese submarines.”

India ’s move to upgrade its ties with Mauritius is seen as a bid to counter China’s growing influence in the Indian Ocean and reinforce New Delhi’s role as a key security and economic partner in the region.

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During his two-day visit to Mauritius as a chief guest of the country’s national day celebrations last week, Indian Prime Minister Narendra Modi and his counterpart Navinchandra Ramgoolam announced the two countries’ “enhanced strategic partnership” and reaffirmed their commitment to a free, safe and open Indian Ocean.

The two nations also signed eight agreements in areas such as currency settlement, diplomat training, and cooperation between small and medium enterprises and pledged to collaborate on artificial intelligence and digital infrastructure.

Antoine Levesques, a senior fellow for South and Central Asian Defence, Strategy and Diplomacy at the International Institute for Strategic Studies (IISS), said India had strong reasons to cooperate closely with Mauritius given the Indian navy’s increasing focus on the western Indian Ocean and China’s ambition to cooperate with littoral and island states there.

“Since India knows it cannot prevent China from being more present in the region, strategic balancing is the prime inspiration for India’s approach,” Levesques told This Week in Asia.

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According to a joint statement issued after the meeting between Modi and Ramgoolam, India will continue to provide defence and maritime assets to Mauritius, apart from deploying ships and aircraft for joint maritime surveillance and hydrography surveys.

Prime Minister Narendra Modi will visit the United Kingdom from 23 to 24 July at the invitation of his British counterpart Keir Starmer, India’s Ministry of External Affairs (MEA) said, with the trip expected to culminate in the signing of a long-pending free trade agreement.

This will be Modi’s first visit to Britain since Starmer’s Labour Party swept to power earlier this year.

“During the visit, the two sides will also review the progress of the Comprehensive Strategic Partnership with a specific focus on trade and economy, technology and innovation, defence and security, climate, health, education, and people-to-people ties,” the MEA said in a statement.

The India-UK free trade agreement (FTA), which was tied up in May after 14 rounds of negotiations, is now expected to be formally signed during Modi’s trip. According to media reports, the deal could double bilateral trade from the current USD 60 billion by 2030.

India will benefit from tariff elimination on 99 per cent of its tariff lines, effectively covering almost all trade value, while Britain will see reduced tariffs on 90 per cent of its tariff lines. Labour-intensive sectors in India such as textiles, apparel, leather, footwear, gems and jewellery, pharmaceuticals, agriculture, and processed foods are set to gain a competitive edge over rivals like Bangladesh and Vietnam.

UK firms, in turn, will find it easier to export whisky, automobiles and other products to India once the FTA takes effect.

During the visit, Modi is also expected to meet King Charles III, marking his first in-person engagement with the monarch since his coronation.

On the second leg of his trip, Modi will travel to the Maldives to attend the country’s Independence Day celebrations, the MEA added.

The FTA with Britain is part of India’s broader push to secure trade deals with major economies to boost exports and create jobs as it eyes becoming a USD 5 trillion economy.