China already has a steady presence in Sri Lanka's Hambantota port, it is wooing Maldives, though no port presence is planned yet.
China is also building a port in Chittagong, Bangladesh, as well as Sonadiya, near Cox's Bazar.
Meanwhile, to counter the Chinese presence, India has ramped up its relations with Oman, though there is no security presence there yet.
India has been pushing to develop the Iranian port of Chahbahar, but that remains a long-term project.
