To counteract China, India bribes Mauritius with maritime security/port support

India agreed on Thursday to provide about $680 million in economic assistance to Mauritius for healthcare, infrastructure and maritime security projects, as New Delhi pushes for greater influence in the Indian Ocean nation in competition with China.

The assistance, in the form of grants and lines of credit, also includes support for development and surveillance of the marine protected area of the Chagos archipelago, which houses a US-British air base on the island of Diego Garcia.