India, May 26 -- International politics is a dangerous business. There is no higher authority to protect states. Because the world is anarchic, states must rely on themselves to survive. For India, the Indian Ocean is the most important region for its security. India's economy and trade depend on these waters.

However, China is a growing great power. To keep its economy running, China needs oil from the Middle East. This oil must travel across the Indian Ocean. The majority of China's top crude oil suppliers - including Saudi Arabia, Iraq, Malaysia, Angola, and Kuwait - must transit the Indian Ocean, making it the main trading route between China and Europe.

To protect these trade routes, China is building a massive navy. It is not just...