Palk Strait

India considers Sri Lanka, just across the narrow Palk Strait off India’s southeastern coast, to be in it sphere of influence, while the island nation in the middle of a key sea route connecting the east and west, also is important to China’s ambitious “One Belt One Road” global infrastructure initiative.

Sri Lanka, a teardrop-shaped island separated from India by the Palk Strait, has 22 million people.

Soon after the Easter attacks, India deployed naval and coast guard ships along the narrow Palk Strait.

Soon after the Easter attacks, India deployed naval and coast guard ships along the narrow Palk Strait.

But the possibility of China's presence in an area separated from Indian territory by only the narrow Palk Strait upset India.