The Changing World Order and US-China Maritime Power Contestation in the Indo Pacific

The grand chess board of world geopolitics has effectively been dominated by the U.S since pastmany decades, however, economic rise of China and resultant maritime power contestation withUS is rapidly changing the status-quo within Indo Pacific Region. The announcement of “Pivot toAsia” followed by “Asia Rebalance” strategies by US President Obama and labelling of Asia Pacificto a more focused “Indo-Pacific” by the President Trump clearly reflects U.S. strategic shift to theregion. To counter U.S. presence in Southeast Asia and address strategic maritime vulnerability ofher Sea Lines of Communications (particularly in South China Sea), China has embarked upon anambitious military modernization plan coupled with initiation of mega economic projects in Asia.This research is focused on developing an understanding regarding the evolving and rapidlychanging maritime power contestation milieu between US and China, studied through the Realistlens. It is an in-depth study of Chinese maritime vulnerability and adopted strategy to overcome it.The research employs theoretical lens of Offensive Realism for studying the U.S national strategyto retain stature of hegemon and Defensive Realist lens to study the adopted Chinese strategy toensure her steady rise and safeguarding its strategic maritime vulnerabilities.