The game of “GO” is a complex and strategic game invented around 40 centuries ago in which its main goal is to surround more territory on the board than your opponent. References to this game can be found in Chinese texts as early as 2,500 years ago. Indeed, it left a notable footprint in Chinese culture, so much so that the game was considered one of the four essential arts of a cultured Chinese scholar, along with music, calligraphy, and painting. However, the GO game goes beyond the world of the arts and expands itself to real-world practical strategic importance. This becomes evident when observing China’s wéiqí-like strategy behind the Maritime Silk Road Initiative, which is part of China’s larger Belt and Road Initiative (BRI), which aims at connecting over 100 nations into a mega-trade network. Currently, the main area of concern for China’s Initiative is the Indian Ocean, as it holds its biggest economic and geopolitical weak point, namely the Strait of Malacca. Taking this into consideration, this paper examines the current position of China on the ‘wéiqí board,’ in other words, its geographical location, and its entailing strengths and weaknesses vis-àvis India, its primary opponent in the Indian Ocean Region. This understanding is crucial in determining China’s future economic and political game plan at a regional but also international level.