1/ As Team Biden thinks through Asia priorities, here is a big one — stopping the balance in the Indian Ocean drifting towards China, as happened in the South China Sea from 2012 to 2014. https://asia.nikkei.com/Opinion/Biden-must-not-let-the-Indian-Ocean-slip-away-like-the-South-China-Sea
Biden must not let the Indian Ocean slip away like the South China Sea

Vital maritime area is strategically up for grabs

https://asia.nikkei.com/Opinion/Biden-must-not-let-the-Indian-Ocean-slip-away-like-the-South-China-Sea
2/ It wasn't long after the start of the start of Obama's first term that China first tested the US via a confrontation with Philippines. Within two years China was busy salami slicing one marine feature at a time. https://www.ft.com/content/b2176dea-0732-11e4-81c6-00144feab7de
US strategists face dilemma over Beijing claim in South China Sea

In June 2012, senior US and Chinese officials met in a hotel in southern Virginia to discuss a dangerous two-month stand-off taking place in the South China Sea.

https://www.ft.com/content/b2176dea-0732-11e4-81c6-00144feab7de
3/ More so than most domains in Asia, the Indian Ocean is geopolitically up for grabs, with plenty of room for both China and the China-sceptic grouping of India, US, Japan, Australia et al to build new economic and military relationships.

https://asia.nikkei.com/Opinion/Biden-must-not-let-the-Indian-Ocean-slip-away-like-the-South-China-Sea
4/ US military ties with India are improving rapidly, but still its plans for the region are often confusing.

This was an excellent podcast with @BDHerzinger and @darshanabaruah on putative plans for a re-born 1st fleet in or near the region. http://cimsec.org/sea-control-217-first-fleet-with-darshana-baruah-blake-herzinger/47053
Sea Control 217 - First Fleet with Darshana Baruah & Blake Herzinger

By Jared Samuelson The Secretary of the Navy recently announced the intent to re-establish the U.S. First Fleet in the Indo-Pacific region. Our guests,

http://cimsec.org/sea-control-217-first-fleet-with-darshana-baruah-blake-herzinger/47053
5/ India's views are changing quickly too. Not only is it willing to work more closely with the US — e.g. letting US planes land in the Andeman Islands — but Europe too. https://indianexpress.com/article/opinion/columns/delhi-now-sees-european-powers-as-natural-partners-in-constructing-a-durable-balance-of-power-in-indo-pacific-7114110/
Delhi now sees European powers as natural partners in constructing a durable balance of power in...

A strong coalition of Asian and European middle powers must now be an indispensable element of the geopolitics of the East. Such a coalition can’t be built overnight. But Delhi could push for a solid...

https://indianexpress.com/article/opinion/columns/delhi-now-sees-european-powers-as-natural-partners-in-constructing-a-durable-balance-of-power-in-indo-pacific-7114110/
6/ I was also struck by the line in the recent Kurt Campbell / @RushDoshi FA piece about building a "tire" around the hubs and spokes. The Indian Ocean is a perfect test case......

https://asia.nikkei.com/Opinion/Biden-must-not-let-the-Indian-Ocean-slip-away-like-the-South-China-Sea
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