Which of the following countries is not a member state of the Indian Ocean Rim Association (IORA)?

Introduction / Context:
International organisations and regional groupings are a common topic in general knowledge and international relations questions. The Indian Ocean Rim Association, usually abbreviated as IORA, is an organisation that brings together coastal states of the Indian Ocean region to promote cooperation on trade, maritime security and sustainable development. This question asks you to identify which listed country is not a member of IORA.

Given Data / Assumptions:

• The organisation in question is the Indian Ocean Rim Association (IORA).
• Options are Sri Lanka, Mauritius, Seychelles and China.
• Member countries of IORA are generally those that have coastlines along the Indian Ocean.
• We assume the standard membership list used in exam oriented study material.

Concept / Approach:
The approach is to recall that IORA includes many coastal countries of Africa, the Middle East, South Asia, Southeast Asia and Australia, but not all countries of Asia. Sri Lanka, Mauritius and Seychelles are island nations in the Indian Ocean, so they are natural members. China, although a major Asian power, has its main coastline on the Pacific Ocean and is therefore not a member of this Indian Ocean focused grouping. Recognising which country does not fit the geographical pattern gives the correct answer.

Step-by-Step Solution:
Step 1: Note that IORA membership is for states around the Indian Ocean rim. Step 2: Sri Lanka is an island in the Indian Ocean, located just south of India, and is known to be part of IORA. Step 3: Mauritius is a small island nation in the southwest Indian Ocean and is also a member of IORA. Step 4: Seychelles is another island country located in the Indian Ocean near the east coast of Africa and is recognised as an IORA member. Step 5: China lies on the western shore of the Pacific Ocean, with the South China Sea and East China Sea forming its primary maritime zones, not the Indian Ocean. Step 6: Since China is not a coastal state of the Indian Ocean rim in the same sense and is not listed as a member in exam oriented sources, it is the correct choice as the non member.

Verification / Alternative check:
An alternative verification method is to recall that IORA meetings often mention member countries like India, Indonesia, Australia, South Africa, Sri Lanka, Mauritius and Seychelles. China is usually discussed in the context of separate initiatives such as the Belt and Road or the South China Sea disputes, not as a member of IORA. This separation in news coverage confirms that China is not part of this specific regional association.

Why Other Options Are Wrong:
Option Sri Lanka is wrong for this question because Sri Lanka is an Indian Ocean island and is indeed a member state of IORA. Option Mauritius is wrong since Mauritius is a founding member of IORA and often hosts or participates in its meetings. Option Seychelles is wrong because Seychelles is an Indian Ocean island nation that also belongs to IORA.

Common Pitfalls:
A common pitfall is to think only of large or powerful countries and assume they must be members of every important grouping. However, regional organisations are defined mainly by geography and shared interests. Avoid guessing based purely on country size. Instead, always visualise a map of the region and check whether each option lies on the relevant ocean or area. This habit helps with many similar questions across different regional bodies such as ASEAN, SAARC and IORA.

Final Answer:
The country that is not a member state of the Indian Ocean Rim Association is China.