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VOL. 8, ISSUE 3 (2026)
India’s Russian oil imports and China’s Malacca dilemma: Energy competition, supply diversification and maritime vulnerability
Authors
Anchal Gautam, Akash Kumar Singh
Abstract
The Russia–Ukraine conflict gave a major boost
to international energy markets, forcing the major energy-consuming nations to
reconsider their procurement plans. In the face of changing geopolitical
circumstances, India has considerably stepped up import of cheap Russian crude
oil to improve energy security, cut oil import cost and diversify its supplies.
China, however, still grapples with the strategic "Malacca Dilemma":
due to its dependence on the Strait of Malacca for a significant portion of its
energy imports, China is still subject to the maritime risks of the region and
possible disruptions. The discussion in this paper begins by studying the
growing energy dependence of India on Russian oil, followed by a focus on
China's maritime energy dependence and its strategy of ‘interhemispheric
balancing'. The study is a qualitative research utilising secondary data
obtained from international organisations, government reports, and literature
from academic publications of the two countries (Cote d'Ivoire and Ecuador) to
compare the energy policies in both countries. The results suggest that India's
energy import approach is making it more energy secure, but that while the
practices are evolving, China's reliance continues to be on energy-vulnerable
sea routes, highlighting deep-seated strategic issues. The paper then examines
the significance for the geopolitics and securing the Indo-Pacific and the
broader significance for the competition over energy in the region in future.
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Pages:63-67
How to cite this article:
Anchal Gautam, Akash Kumar Singh "India’s Russian oil imports and China’s Malacca dilemma: Energy competition, supply diversification and maritime vulnerability". International Journal of Sociology and Political Science, Vol 8, Issue 3, 2026, Pages 63-67
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