The "String of Pearls" in South Asia: Why there will always be a 'Checkmate'

Abstract: The accusation that China is encircling India in the Indian Ocean through the ‘Spring of Pearls’ became popular within the academic and media streams since 2004. With China financing the construction of ports along the coasts of friendly states in the South Asian region, the criticisms became harsher as critics feared the ‘activation’ of the so-called pearl strings. After almost two decades since the use of the phrase, there has not been any militarization (activation) of Chinese-sponsored ports. This paper seeks to explain why the string of pearls has not been ‘activated’ to this day. It argues that the supposed ‘string of pearls’ faces critical challenges in South Asia. Multi-party democracy (in other words the domestic politics) together with the Interests of the U.S and her allies, counter-responses from India, and self-imposed principles on the part of the Chinese government, will encumber any probable activation of the ‘pearl strings’ into naval or military bases in South Asia.

Keywords: Spring of Pearls, South Asia, Multi-party Democracy, Militarization, Indian Ocean