Maritime Perspectives 2017 (Maritime Developments in Indo-Pacific Region in 2016)

Preface by Admiral RK Dhowan, Chairman NMF:The seas around us are gaining newfound importance as each day goes by, and I have no doubt that the current century is the ‘Century of the Seas’. It is, therefore, the endeavour of the National Maritime Foundation (NMF) to generate greater awareness on ‘matters maritime’ among the wider section of maritime thinkers, bothin India and abroad.The expanding readership of NMF’s scholarship on current strategic, maritime and related geopolitical issues has been encouraging. This is disseminated in the form of View Points and Issue Briefs through the Foundation website, as also through its annual publication ‘Maritime Perspectives’, which puts together analyses of eventsand developments in the Indian Ocean, the Asia Pacific and beyond. It is amply clear that the year 2016 has been as dynamic as the preceding ones in terms of geo-strategic trends and developments. I am confident that MaritimePerspective 2016 would immensely help the strategic and academic communities in India and overseas to better understand these developments and the ramifications.