The Indian Navy has been taking steps to ensure that the Chinese Navy does not enter the Indian Ocean Region

The Indian Navy believes China will inevitably try to enter the Indian Ocean Region (IOR) in its quest to become a global power, just like it did in the South China Sea.

As such, India has reached out to its neighbours - Maldives, Mauritius, Seychelles and Madagascar - to prevent China from expanding its footprint in the region, a Hindustan Times report has said.

The report quoted an officer as saying that the People's Liberation Army-Navy (PLAN) will venture into IOR if China wants to become a global power. "They are opening multiple routes to the Indian Ocean to overcome the Malacca Dilemma (China's strategic weakness)," he said, according to the Hindustan Times.

However, India has been keeping a watch on China's aggressive moves in the South China Sea.

Former Indian Navy chief Admiral Arun Prakash told the Hindustan Times that it is “a reality” that PLAN will deploy in the Indian Ocean once its power crosses a threshold.

He pointed out that the Indian Navy has been taking steps to ensure that the Chinese Navy doesn't muscle its way into the Indian Ocean.

According to the report, combat-ready Indian warships are carrying out round-the-clock surveillance for any unusual activity.