Why the Indian Ocean could be China's Achilles' heel in a Taiwan war Reuters explains

US dominance in the Indian Ocean could be China's Achilles' heel in a possible military conflict with Taiwan, Reuters reported, citing several military attachés and academics.

According to Reuters, China's vulnerability in the Indian Ocean is now being very closely scrutinised in Western countries as part of a study of hypothetical scenarios for a conflict with China over Taiwan.

David Brewster, a security specialist at the Australian National University, told the agency that in the event of a major war, Chinese oil tankers and naval vessels travelling to the PRC from Africa and Brazil via the Indian Ocean would be very vulnerable.

According to Mr Brewster, "Chinese naval vessels would effectively be trapped in the Indian Ocean and ... they would have little or no air support because there are no bases or facilities of its own that (China) could rely on."

At the same time, the US has deployed the 5th Fleet in Bahrain, the 7th Fleet and a military base off Diego Garcia Atoll. In the eastern Indian Ocean, Australia is stepping up air patrols.

Four ambassadors and eight analysts familiar with discussions in Western and Asian capitals told Reuters that this state of affairs gives China's adversaries a "ladder of opportunity," especially in the event of a protracted conflict between Russia and Ukraine.

The agency's interlocutors said scenarios being considered by Western allies include, among others, operations to harass and intercept Chinese vessels or blockades. These options could be used to dissuade China from launching hostilities, Reuters reported.