STRATEGI INDIA DALAM MERESPON EKSPANSI MILITER TIONGKOK DI KAWASAN SAMUDERA HINDIA

The construction of Tiongkok ports and naval bases in the Indian Ocean region raises concerns and various threats to India. This study aims to describe the strategy carried out by the Indian government to respond to the Tiongkok government's naval military expansion in the Indian Ocean. In analyzing this study using descriptive analytical research methods and the framework of the balance of threat theory by Stephen Walt. The three strategies derived from the balance of threat are first, the bandwagoning strategy, in which the country chooses to form an alliance with a stronger state. Second, the balancing strategy, where the state chooses to align itself with a weak state. Third, hedging strategy, where the country chooses to avoid conflict situations in order to minimize risk and loss. The results showed that the strategy used by India in resisting Tiongkok's military expansion was to use a bandwagoning strategy because India was aware of its capabilities which were still below Tiongkok. Therefore, India maintains its position in the Indian Ocean region by choosing an alliance with the United States