India, which defied the US and China in supporting the present rulers of Cambodia through the 1980s, now finds itself an increasingly marginal player. If New Delhi continues to dissipate its long established equities in Laos, Cambodia and Vietnam, the term “Indo-China” that was used to describe this region would soon become a misnomer.

Maldives rivalry

If New Delhi is ceding diplomatic ground in China’s backyard, Beijing is taking the fight into India’s. Last week, Beijing announced that China Eastern Airlines will now fly to Male en route to South Africa.

Its strategic location astride the sea-lanes of the Indian Ocean has made Maldives a major target of opportunity for China in recent years. High level political exchanges have increased in recent years, including a visit by Maldives President Abdul Gayoom to Beijing last September.

While New Delhi pays episodic attention to Maldives, Beijing has dramatically stepped up its economic, diplomatic and political engagement with Maldives.

The writer is professor at the Rajaratnam School of International Studies, Nanyang Technological University, Singapore