China’s new Belt and Road Initiative (BRI), a signature project of President Xi Jinping, has been viewed as the “only large-scale multilateral development project that the 21st century has seen.” No similar initiative has emerged either from the West or from India, which happens to be China’s close neighbor.
Representatives from more than a hundred nations converged on Beijing to attend the inaugural function (May 14-15) of the project hosted by Xi. Twenty-nine heads of state were present including Russia’s Vladimir Putin, Pakistan’s Nawaz Sharif and Turkey’s Recep Tayyip Erdogan and Germany’s Angela Merkel. US President Donald Trump sent Matt Pottinger, his special assistant and senior adviser on Asia at the National Security Council. Japan and Vietnam (who have had differences with China) sent high-level representatives. Other important countries such as France, UK, South Korea, Sri Lanka and the Philippines were present as well.
The UN secretary general, the World Bank president and the head of the International Monetary Fund were also there.
Conspicuously absent was Prime Minister Narendra Modi of India, who had been invited. Shockingly, in a surprise move, Modi decided to boycott the function.
Further, Modi’s foreign office spokesman stated, obviously referring to the China-Pakistan Economic Corridor (CPEC) in the “Pakistan-occupied Kashmir (PoK),” that it violated India’s “sovereignty and territorial integrity.” This is not fair since the PoK has been with Pakistan ever since the Partition of 1947 without India ever attempting to restore its claimed sovereignty over the area.
The spokesman added presumptuously that China’s BRI had not met “universally recognized international norms” and advised that “connectivity initiatives must be based on good governance, rule of law, openness, transparency and equality.” Further, China must pursue “principles of financial responsibility to avoid projects that would create unsustainable debt burdens, balanced ecological and environmental protection and preservation of standards; and transparent assessment of project costs.”
It seems that India’s increasing hostility to China is aggravated by: its non-cooperation in getting India admitted to the Nuclear Suppliers Group (NSG); its opposition to getting Masood Azhar declared a UN-designated terrorist; and its opposition to the Dalai Lama’s recent visit to Arunachal Pradesh, which it claims as its own territory.
India seems to suspect that the real Chinese agenda in the Belt and Road Initiative is to strategically control the Indian Ocean
India, which has accused China of “undermining the sovereignty of other nations,” seems to suspect that the real Chinese agenda in the Belt and Road Initiative is to strategically control the Indian Ocean, which India dominates. This does not appear to be the case. India needs to realise that it is diplomacy, not trade that would help it achieve its goals.
India must note also that differences are bound to arise when several countries come together to cooperate economically, and that China’s Belt and Road Initiative is unprecedented in scope and ambition with a potential to impact world history.
The BRI, as a lever for development, envisages a modern network of highways, high-speed railway lines, ports, airports, digital connectivity infrastructure, and supportive financial mechanisms linking Asia, Eurasia, Europe, the Middle East and Africa. It implies a new wave of globalization led by Asia, unlike the previous West-inspired one, which has run into a crisis.
In a statement titled “Modi needs better advice on China, he has scored a self-goal” (www.ndtv.com, May 18), Sudheendra Kulkarni, an eminent journalist and aide to former BJP prime minister Atal Behari Vajpayee (1999-2004) who attended the BRI forum in Beijing (May 14-15) as an “unofficial delegate from India,” noted that India’s decision not to attend the forum was “short-sighted and self-defeating.”
He notes some of the benefits for India from active participation in the Xi Jinping-led “project of the century,” would be:
- It would promote infrastructure development and economic connectivity in South Asia, which is the most populated and poorly integrated region in the world.
- It would help Indian businesses avail of the opportunity to participate in the BRI projects in Asia, Africa, Europe and elsewhere.
3. It would advance India’s “Act East” policy by providing it with an opportunity to connect with the BCIM (Bangladesh, China, India, Myanmar) region and improve socioeconomic development in the less developed East and Northeast of India and open the country to Southeast Asia and southern China.
4. As the second-largest shareholder in the multilateral Asia Infrastructure Investment Bank (AIIB), India would benefit from participation in several mega BRI projects.
5. Every member of the South Asian Association for Regional Cooperation (SAARC), which includes India and the extended neighborhood in Southeast Asia, West Asia and Central Asia, would benefit from the BRI connection.
6. India’s participation in the Beijing meeting would bring it closer to China and Pakistan, and help improve mutual problem-solving. India may be able to get its youth opportunities to work on CPEC project activities.
7. India’s legitimate concerns over the failure of China and Pakistan to consult it with regard to the CPEC so far could be remedied and Indian youth would be enabled to join BRI projects across the world. The issues of territorial integrity and sovereignty raised by India could be discussed in a fraternal manner. The flow of benefits from the CPEC project implementation to the people of PoK could gain from Indian experience.
Participation and criticism from inside the BRI would be better for India than mere criticism from outside. There is no military solution to the triangular conflicts, which exist between India, China and Pakistan.
The Chinese leadership has clarified that India is still welcome to join the BRI framework and contribute its wisdom to finding solutions to the problems of Asia and the world.
Kulkarni has warmly appreciated President Xi Jinping’s comprehensive vision and approach and states that “China today is reaching out to the minds of countries and communities around the world in a far more ambitious and expansive manner than India ever dreamt of doing.”
High praise indeed from an Indian!
China is a semi capitalistic country like USA…..USA used to do its financing from world bank & IMF to poor countries where they were asked to shed all their public sector assets like mining,power,etc etc in favor of businessmen.So when countries find debt burden & interest unsustainable they will have to offload ports,railwaylines,telecom,road toll etc etc to imperialist.Moreover like how US/UK controlled the appointment of key leaders in their lending bodies IMF/World Bank china will also have their key people.So India may be skeptical as its history is not good trade followed flag.
People like sudheendra kulkarni can be bought with a few thousand dollars by Chinese Embassy official… And that’s what probably happened… In today’s world, people know how things are managed and marketed… Everyone is for sale… Even Prime Ministers and Presidents of counties can sell their country for a few million dollars in their Swiss account… Fortunately, Narendra Modi is not interested in money.
lol looks like Indians will just defeat themselves in the end.
From the 1962 misadventure, subsequently shamelessly blame China for the disaster through its internal media self serving narrative and create China paranoia in more than 2 generations of Indians have permanently damaged Indian psyche towards China.
Then comes the Nationalistic BJP and Modi, with egging on of opportunistic Japanese, one really wonders where all these will end for India.
Shame because from all the Indian intellectuals I’ve talked to plenty are reasonable people which could have worked out the relationships with China, but in the end I think they will be trumped by nationalistic rhetoric.
Well good luck India, China holds no ill will towards India but keep on poking us here and there then that WILL change.
Qian Deng I think it is destiny for china will get punished by India in 1-2 generations for sure,it now goes back to this when British & Americans were arming themselves to the teeth in the 17th=18th century both India/china was aloof & both fell…similar fate may be awaiting these countries now.
Vijay Raghavan Funny you use the word "punish", you might want to look up the word’s meaning because the only one who fit that word in terms of China-India bad blood is Indians themselves. I mean if you think about it its funny, Indian started the 1962 misadventure themselves, pumped themselves full of idiotic China hate via Indian’s own media, turned themselves paranoid and phycologically damaged when it comes to China, turns China’s ciivilitiy in retreating to LOC to foster better ways for diplomacy into India’s own self serving narrative of being afraid of Inida etc, and to this day still lives in this phsycologic wrap but only gets even more wrapped every day with newly found nationalistic rhetorics. Historians will write all these down and gasp at how Indians get themselves into such a silly state. LOL.
But its okay, Chinese are a much more mature civilization than Indians ever will be. As long as China remains more powerful than India which we WILL BE, we’ll hold the line pretty well so the bad blood is contained and silly Indian tantrum here and there will not affect the bigger picture of stability and peace, and Indians will be given plenty of room to go fondle themselves silly. Know Pakistan? We are about to give them an once in a life time opportunity to uplift themselves via CPEC. Of course nothing is free, but this is Pakistan’s once in a life time opportunity to rise up to the developmental challenge in all spheres with Chinese credits and expertise backing them up, farming, education, technology, industry, everything. and I believe Pakistanis will be able to rise to the challenge, and they should learn from the Chinese character of working oneself to the max to better oneself and the next generations. In time they may even adapt more positive Chinese Characteristics, hey who knows?
Now that "serious talk" is over time for some comedy relief.
Know any good Indian directors willing to cooperate on a comedy film?
Starring:
China – Handsome talented dynamic guy (like me)
India – Foster daughter of a Noble family with lion as their noble emblem, emotionally unstable due to early stage foster parental abuse but has since become independent
Pakistan – Little sister to the foster daughter, after gaining independece along with sister they broke up due to family quarrels
Basic script:
After foster daughter gained indepence she wandered around for a bit and eventually met the handsome guy. At first she fell for the guy for all the talent and handsomeness, but after a very bad date due to her own silliness she retreated to a secluded life, and wrapped herself in delusions on how its all the guy’s fault and eventually become very emotionally unstable at the mere mention of the guy.
Mean while the guy met the little sister, and after a happy date they went on and developed good relationships. Because the elder sister lives close by both have to constantly deal with elder sister’s unstable emotions and by getting too close to the little sister, the guy constantly gets dragged into family quarrels.
There, sound like a very nice script for an epic comedy movie, doesnt it ; )
Qian Deng
I come from the North eastern part of India, underdeveloped and ignored. Modi is interested to initiate more integration related policies. Roads and train connectivity has begun massively. But we will still be generations away from being progressive.
BRI could hav been a game changer. North East of India needs connectivity with the rest of South East Asia to help realize our true potential. It will help us develop economically n culturally. International trade and commerce between India and the rest of South East Asia through the corridors of N.E of India will support a generations transitional process quickly. The tricky part is that many within the indian intelligensia are nervous bout such development since many N.E states n the neighbouring nations are having similar culture and history which could become an issue later. But i believe that larger engagement benefitting both regions should not be bogged down by such trivial thoughts.
I honestly believe that trans-national linkages like in western Europe should be encouraged n implemented. We cannot live in the past and be nervous bout our future. We hav to own up and be the change maker. History will not be kind to those who missed their bus!
We havent forgotten 1962 & the Elephant dont forget.. and await an opportunity to pay back China for the graciousness. Just awaiting the right sets – a quick Indo Pak war to take back POK and/or free Balochistan or destroy Gawdar.. (your friend Pakistan is giving a lot of opportunities for that lately).. which immediately snuffs out the light of 60BN dollar CPEC… so much money up in smoke. Besides we want Japan to start arming themselves which is finally happening.. That will put 2 strong powers in Asia to challenge China by 2020. If only 1962 never happened.. a thing Chinese scholars must be rueing about now. All the best on your One belt – One way Exports – Disaster of a Road.
Qian Deng You seem to be a chinese patriot good for you,i think the conflict between India/china was set in the tibet conquest by china in 1959……it was bad publicity & made china a imperial power.The Indians panicked & a war may have broken out.The context then was Mao said i will line up all my chinese & ask them to piss India will get drowned.Now the Indian demographics is different…..they can throw back the threat.
The intent of china in pakistan may be to check american influence….all along when china was 2nd biggest economy its trade with pakistan was hardly significant so both americans & chinese with 35 trillion dollar economy were fooling pakistan so if u think now it will be better good.But in OBOR there will be land acquisition across many countries that is where americans & their media will get at you
So it depends if china is generous & a benign power….though you should make movies with all countries on OBOR to reduce friction.India will not partner in OBOR but i do think some conflicts can emerge in 5 years time.
Right on mr. Deng !.The Indian’s BLAME’S most or everything on CHINA …that’s indias national hobby ..but they LOVE Brit’s and all that is British !!?? Wonder why ?..They could have killed millions ( in colonial times ) …but India LOVE BRIT’S….color complex ? inferiority complex ? Well only in their curry mind will know !!.
its not the fact that this is about china,lets take a wider look,europe is doomed financially,the brexit issue is clear message that uk knows the west is doomed,only large scale deals by the british and the usa with the arabs can save the europe from collapse,india has to understand that its politicians can not be the new COLONIALIST IDEA, in its own background,can all these comments coming here answer one question does india want to be an asian country or a strange country in its own backyard..it seems the the country of GANDHI has become an arrogant self centered nation when is the lat time india a stronger nation reached out to pakistan…a very long time ago..
India was caught flat footed when US (and 24/7 stooge Japan) decided to attend at thr last moment… by then it was too late for Modi to also change his mind.
Hindu nationalists are fricking hillarious. Chairman Mao is long dead and buried, and so is Nehru. The CCP today has changed directions so much that today it is more capitalist than socialist, and it had fought no wars since 1979. Outside of its disputes with India, China settled most of their border disputes. May I remind you that China also fought a war with Russia in 1969, and now they are best buddies. Even Vietnam, which China fought a war with in 1979 and have maritime disputes with today, put aside their differences and signed up to OBOR. In the end, pragmatism and diplomacy trumps petty nationalism.
Sour grapes I would like to say for them not joining the OROB. Haha so obvious.
Richard Fan China’s attitude to India on many things in diplomacy like NSG admission,trade deficit,market access are all questionable even if border disputes are kept aside.At same time many Indians will acknowledge that due to china’s military power there were not many large scale wars which broke out like vietnam,laos,north korea,cambodia,india-pakistan like that for past 3-4 decades.Denying that credit to china is not what reasonable Indians will do despite challenges of american presence.However america is still nurturing ambitions of being a global power….so there will be collateral damages once again in Asia.So china has to convince OBOR countries it has military might to take on america/europe otherwise smaller countries will get sandwitched between two of you.
My theory is that China spawn a trap for Modi and Modi… predictably fall right into it.
Just like the Marshall Plan, US offered it to USSR and Europe but at same time US made conditions that USSR cannot accept, so Russia declined Marshall plan just the way US wanted. That give US chance to build up its alliance around a hostile Russia.
China… build a road right through Kashmir which it know would upset Modi, and predictably make him refuse to join the B&R plan when India needs it more than any other nations in the region. So China can be like US, build up its alliance network around a hostile India.
If Modi were a bigger man, he would have joined the B&R and outplay China.
In fact, the whole foreign policy of India towards China is pure idiocy. They should have finish the peace treaty with China, solve the border dispute even at disadvantage, build up a strong India with China help, and in time when India gets stronger it can change its policy towards China and force them to renegotiate the terms…. but no…. India has to play tough while lacking actual power, and fail spectacularly every time it does so.
It puzzles me that there are so many smart Indians in US where I live, but India as a nation… not so smart.