The Strait of Malacca is a narrow chokepoint, running between Indonesia’s Batam and Sumatra Islands, that connects the Indian Ocean with the South China Sea.
For India, the Strait of Malacca is a geo-strategic leverage to use for blocking Chinese military and merchant vessels, in case of a Sino-India conflict.[1]
The maritime training centre at Batam, in the Riau Islands, a joint project between Indonesia and the United States, bolsters India’s position, as it completes preparation for a blockade in the region.[2]