A parliamentary panel has flagged the deepening China-Pakistan naval nexus and Beijing’s expanding footprint in the Indian Ocean Region (IOR) as a key concern, even as the government asserted that India is strengthening its deterrence and surveillance architecture to counter emerging threats.The observations came in the action-taken report of the Parliamentary Standing Committee on External Affairs on its earlier study, Evaluation of India’s Indian Ocean Strategy, which was presented to both Houses of Parliament on August 11, 2025. The latest report reviews the government’s response to the panel’s 32 recommendations.Focusing on maritime security, the committee expressed concern over China’s rapidly expanding naval capabilities and increasing deployments in the IOR, including submarines and carrier battle groups, alongside strategic infrastructure development under the Belt and Road Initiative and the “String of Pearls” framework.It highlighted the “continued strengthening” of the China-Pakistan naval partnership, warning of a possible nexus that could alter the regional balance of power and challenge India’s autonomy. The MEA said India was seized of the security implications of the combined threat and was maintaining constant surveillance of Chinese and Pakistani deployments. It said operational doctrines were being refined and capability development plans pursued to address challenges.The government cited key inductions, including aircraft carrier INS Vikrant, modernisation of the submarine fleet with nuclear-powered platforms, and enhancement of anti-submarine warfare capabilities through ASW corvettes, P-8I aircraft and MH-60R helicopters.The committee, while noting these measures, stressed the need to fast-track the Space-Based Surveillance-III (SBS-III) programme to ensure real-time maritime domain awareness. It also urged deeper engagement with partner navies through exercises such as Malabar, Varuna, Konkan and RIMPAC, and greater cooperation with Indian Ocean littoral states.The panel emphasised that sustained strategic partnerships and technology-driven surveillance would be critical to maintaining a favourable balance of power in the region and countering China’s growing influence.