China’s expanding presence across the Indian and Pacific oceans is increasingly becoming a significant factor in Indo-Pacific security, with a new report examining how Beijing is building access, military capabilities and influence beyond its immediate waters.The Australian Strategic Policy Institute’s (ASPI) June 2026 “Pressure Points” report says China has steadily expanded its defence and security presence across the Southwest Pacific, Indian Ocean and Australia’s maritime approaches over the past decade.Key HighlightsChina’s maritime and security presence has expanded across the Indian and Pacific oceans.ASPI says Beijing is developing a broader pattern of access, presence and influence.China is using naval, paramilitary and policing capabilities to expand its regional engagement.The Indian Ocean is important to China because of trade, energy routes and access to markets.China’s maritime activities also extend into the Southwest Pacific.Analysts say the development is reshaping the wider Indo-Pacific security environment.China’s Expanding Maritime PresenceChina’s maritime activities are no longer limited to waters close to its coastline. ASPI’s report examines the country’s growing presence beyond the First Island Chain and across the Southwest Pacific, Indian Ocean and waters around Australia and New Zealand.According to ASPI, China is using a combination of capabilities, including its growing blue-water navy, paramilitary forces and localised policing arrangements, to establish a wider regional footprint.The report describes this as a long-term effort to make Chinese access and influence increasingly established across different parts of the Indo-Pacific.Why Is the Indian Ocean Important to China?The Indian Ocean is strategically important for China because it connects the country with major energy supplies, trading partners and markets across the Middle East, Africa, South Asia and Europe.The International Institute for Strategic Studies (IISS) has noted that China’s Indian Ocean engagement has expanded considerably since Beijing first began deploying vessels to the region in 2008. China opened its first overseas military facility in Djibouti in 2017 and has also deployed submarines to the Indian Ocean.IISS says China's presence in the Indian Ocean is linked not only to protecting energy and trade interests but also to its broader maritime ambitions.The organisation has also highlighted the importance of Indian Ocean sea lanes for China's access to international markets and energy supplies.China’s Presence in the PacificThe Pacific has also become an important area of Chinese engagement.ASPI's report examines China's activities in the Southwest Pacific, where Beijing has developed relationships and expanded security cooperation with island states. The report says China's approach varies across different parts of the region, reflecting local political and security conditions.China's broader maritime activities include naval deployments, security cooperation and other forms of engagement designed to increase its ability to operate farther from its home waters.The expansion has attracted attention from countries including Australia, India, Japan and the United States because the Indian and Pacific oceans are increasingly viewed as interconnected strategic spaces.What Does This Mean for the Indo-Pacific?The growing Chinese presence is contributing to a broader transformation of the Indo-Pacific security environment.IISS has described the Indian Ocean as an interconnected strategic theatre extending from the Strait of Hormuz to the Malacca Strait. It says competition around maritime chokepoints and sea lanes is becoming increasingly important as China's Indian Ocean capabilities grow.The issue is not limited to military activity. China's economic relationships, infrastructure projects, diplomatic engagement and maritime activities all contribute to its wider regional presence.A recent analysis published by the Asia Society also argued that China's growing presence in the Indian Ocean requires India to strengthen its own regional strategy while building on existing partnerships and capabilities.Implications for IndiaChina's expanding presence in the Indian Ocean is particularly relevant for India because of India's geographic position and dependence on the region's maritime routes.India is a resident Indian Ocean power and has been strengthening its naval capabilities and maritime partnerships. A 2026 analysis by the National University of Singapore's Institute of South Asian Studies noted that India's concerns over China's growing naval capabilities and economic presence in the Indian Ocean have contributed to changes in New Delhi's maritime strategy.India's response has included naval modernisation and greater cooperation with regional partners.At the same time, the Indian Ocean states have their own economic and security interests, meaning China's expanding role cannot be viewed only through the lens of India-China competition.China’s Wider Strategic AmbitionsThe ASPI report places China's activities in the Indian and Pacific oceans within a wider pattern of expanding regional influence.Separately, a September 2026 analysis by the Brookings Institution examined China's efforts to increase its influence over maritime rules and international law, alongside greater operational activity at sea.These developments suggest that China's maritime strategy involves more than naval deployments. Economic relationships, diplomatic engagement, security cooperation, legal positions and access arrangements can all contribute to a country's ability to influence the regional order.However, the motivations behind individual Chinese activities vary, and assessments of Beijing's long-term intentions differ among analysts.What Happens Next?China's expanding presence across the Indian and Pacific oceans is likely to remain an important issue in Indo-Pacific strategic discussions.For India, Australia, Japan and other regional countries, the focus will include maritime security, access to sea lanes, infrastructure, naval capabilities and partnerships with smaller island and coastal states.The ASPI report describes China's growing presence as part of a broader pattern of access and influence. How this develops will depend on China's future activities as well as the responses of regional countries and the choices made by Indian Ocean and Pacific island states themselves.
