Big Take Asia Podcast

China’s Growing Presence in the Indian Ocean Is Alarming Rivals

On today’s Big Take Asia podcast: How Mauritius and its island neighbors became caught in a great-power chess match for more than a decade.

The 46th fleet of the Chinese People's Liberation Army Navy during an counter-terrorism and anti-piracy exercise in Jan. 2025. 

Photographer: Zhang Dayu/Xinhua News Agency/Getty Images

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Mauritius and neighboring islands in the Indian Ocean are at the center of a great-power chess match involving the US, China and India. All want to use them as bases to protect shipping lanes and project military might in the region.