India's security concerns surrounding the strategic Coco Islands have been heightened following the discovery of a second military aircraft hangar via recent satellite imagery. The construction reinforces suspicions about the Myanmar-controlled island's potential use for foreign military and surveillance activities.
Last year, India voiced strong objections over the prospect of China gaining access to Coco Island. Analysts fear that Chinese monitoring facilities on the island could be used to track Indian missile launches from the Balasore test range in Odisha, as well as surveil key military assets near Visakhapatnam.
Myanmar's military regime has repeatedly dismissed claims of Chinese involvement in Coco Island's militarization, which has included extending runways, building hardened shelters, and setting up monitoring capabilities.
The new hangar raises fresh anxieties in the region. Experts suggest the increased infrastructure could pave the way for the deployment of more military aircraft to the island. This, in turn, would give Myanmar a greater ability to conduct surveillance or potentially bolster its military presence in the strategically vital Bay of Bengal.
While the precise purpose and potential of the new hangar remain shrouded in uncertainty, its existence represents a significant development in a region of increasing geopolitical complexity.
India and its allies will be closely watching for further developments on Coco Island and the evolving posture of Myanmar's military towards its powerful neighbor, China.
