Myanmar has assured India that there is no Chinese presence on the Coco Islands in the Bay of Bengal. However, sources said Naypyitaw has yet to approve India’s request for a naval visit to the strategically located island chain, less than 100 miles from India’s Landfall Island.
India’s Security Concern
The Coco Islands, located close to India’s Andaman and Nicobar Command, have long been a source of concern for Indian security agencies. New Delhi suspects that China may be using the islands for surveillance and monitoring of Indian military activities.
Satellite images reveal expanded infrastructure on the islands, including an extended airstrip of 2,300 metres, capable of handling transport aircraft. New barracks and sheds have also been built to accommodate over 1,500 military personnel.
Myanmar’s Assurance to India
According to sources, Myanmar’s ruling junta told India’s visiting Defence Secretary Rajesh Kumar Singh during a defence dialogue in September that “not a single Chinese national” was present on the Coco Islands.
Singh met Major General Kyaw Ko Htike, Chief of Myanmar’s Armed Forces Training, in Naypyitaw between September 25–27 for the second annual defence dialogue. The assurance was seen as an effort to ease Indian concerns about possible Chinese military activity.
India Awaits Navy Access
Despite the reassurance, Myanmar has not yet cleared India’s request for a naval inspection of the islands. The Indian Navy has submitted requests through diplomatic and defence channels, but no response has been received so far.
Officials say India wants to verify developments on the ground, especially given the visible infrastructure expansion and construction of a causeway connecting Coco to nearby Jerry Island.
China’s Expanding Influence in Myanmar
Intelligence inputs indicate that China-linked insurgent groups and drug militias continue to operate in northern Myanmar, especially beyond the Chindwin River. The Myanmar government’s control in these regions remains weak, giving Beijing-backed groups considerable influence near India’s northeastern border.
Analysts believe that Beijing could use these areas to monitor Indian missile tests in Balasore and APJ Abdul Kalam Island, as well as submarine movements near Visakhapatnam’s Rambilli naval base.
The Strategic Stakes
The Coco Islands sit at a critical maritime position in the Bay of Bengal — just below India’s Andaman and Nicobar Islands. Their location allows potential surveillance of Indian naval activities and missile operations along the eastern coast.
While Myanmar insists that no Chinese troops are stationed there, experts say continued military upgrades raise legitimate security concerns for India.
