The world is facing a complex international scenario with the threat of conflict on the Korean peninsula, a possible global trade war and growing tension in the Middle East.
Economic interdependence, mutual distrust and unreliable security guarantees encourage ostensible allies to hedge against one another to protect their interests. The big question is the rise of China both economically and militarily and its growing assertiveness in the South China Sea, South Asia, Eurasia and Africa. China is clearly undermining regional security by engaging in coercive activity in the South China Sea and challenging the International Tribunal ruling https://goo.gl/nMNozT. South China Sea sovereignty and the huge rise in China’s military budget are deeply troubling concerns for Asian countries. It’s clear that China is seeking global domination.
This will be the Asia Century in terms of economics, military strength, and geopolitical power. China has adopted assertive policies which have severely undermined Asian stability and challenged the status quo of neighboring maritime countries. Moreover, a pivot to Asia under the administration of US President Donald Trump is uncertain. Key allies such as Japan, South Korea, and the Philippines have voiced strong concerns regarding Washington’s commitment to act as a security guarantor in the region.
US Asia pivot troubling for the region
Trump’s withdrawal from the Trans-Pacific Partnership alarmed US allies in the region and raised questions about the future of their relationship. US isolationist policy will give China power to dominate Asia and the freedom to set the rules for the Asia century. As America retreats from the world stage or reduces its role in the global affairs, shedding the role of security guarantor, especially in Asia, will create a gap that will be too big to fill, especially by any Asian countries.
To protect the multinational nature of the continent, Asian countries who share the same values should build coalitions rapidly to create a sustainable geopolitical equilibrium. Which country suits the role better than India? Many Asian values resonate with those of India such as freedom of speech, respect for each other’s territorial integrity and balanced trade.
Asia today is facing a similar geopolitical situation as Europe did at the end of the Second World War with the threat of communism driven by Russian aggression. The Marshall Plan protected Europe from widespread chaos.
Asia today is facing a similar geopolitical situation as Europe did at the end of the Second World War with the threat of communism driven by Russian aggression. The Marshall Plan protected Europe from widespread chaos. The plan helped Europe not only rebuild but also allowed it to become a major player in the international arena and help restore peace.
The current situation in Asia favors India to follow a similar strategy and build a grand plan to counter China’s assertive moves. The policy of Look East to Act East https://goo.gl/LzxQSe has produced a substantial result, but a lot more must be done. An Indian Marshall Plan should focus on three things: regional integration, a developmental state and a balance between free-market policies and social cohesion.
Regional connectivity is key in order to increase the sphere of influence to boost trade. In order to make it an Asia century for all, trade should be the vital part of the plan, and India should liberalize its trade policy making it easier for Asian economies to import Indian goods, especially pharmaceuticals, electrical machinery, and steel.
The best way to build a strong relationship with another country is to build a market. India must propose a bank to fund weaker economies as well as support special infrastructure spending to develop transport, energy and communication links between economies. These proposals would rebuild weaker economies and create a stronger demand for raw materials and technical expertise which can easily be exported by Indians companies. This will help change an Indian economy driven by domestic consumption to a semi export-driven economy, and so deal with a big weakness in the Indian economy.
India can play a lead role in many areas
It’s urgent that India restructure its rural economy through digital connectivity, creating better markets and enhancing the purchasing power at the bottom of the economic pyramid. India has lots of expertise to offer, especially in the field of technology, finance, space exploration and oil refineries. It needs to broaden the economic benefits through improved delivery mechanisms which, in turn, help strengthen its democracy as well as trade in the region. An Indian Marshall Plan must include aggressive foreign and economic policies to promote regional integration through the trade and digital connectivity.
According to the World Economic Forum, each additional 10% of Internet penetration can lead to a 1.2% increase in per capita GDP growth in emerging economies. India must focus on improving digital connectivity and work toward deepening financial cooperation with other countries in the regions.
A multinational Asia is not only in India’s interest but also creates a better future for the entire region. It’s time that India takes a leadership role in Asia to prove that it is an emergent power with the ambition of a superpower.
You were a communist for 70 years, introduced to Coca-Cola very recently!
First ‘Toilet Marshall Plan’ then other plans, please!
Trying to run before you can walk properly is a recipe for falling flat on your face.
This would be a marshal plan to spread slavery by the slave country. Unless Indian beurocrats and politician free themselves from legacy of western slavery they can just serve as canon foder for western master to check rise of Asia
India & Iran are 2 biggest state sponsors of terrorism & 2 biggest violators of law. Both of them shelter, train & equip terrorists and when terrorists fail on their own these these 2 terrorist states send in their militaries to help terrorists and kill innocent people. We need to work with China and Saudi Arabia to keep an eye on these 2 terrorist states.
Not even China call its OBOR as Marshall Plan, even though the money budgeted for it, has far surpassed Marshall Plan. India with its small budget to invest, arrogantly compare itself with Marshall Plan. It is like inviting your neighbour to your home, and serve them peanuts and water, and call it a banquet.
LOL. India Show me the money.
Brother u r right. But the thing is atleast we Indians accept our problem and try to solve them we r not like failed state of yours who exports terror to all surrounding region. And nowadays u r getting taste of ur own medicine of terror
Tariq Bappi I guess u hv forgotten that these idol worshipper s saved your ppl nd gave you independence in 1971.. when your fellow muslims of pakistan were slaughter ing millions of bangladeshis … No wonder u forgot about that ungratefull fck look at ur own country … U r no better than pakistan ..What is the condition of minority groups there millions of ppl are talking refuge in india why? Because islam is a sayani religion which teaches its followere to kill ppl of other religion … They even kill each other look at syria nd look at what pakistan did in 1971… A muslim talking about self respect and braber ya that’s why they snrakshan up to ppl nd sucide bomb themselves lol ever heard of a indian doing this??
We are cooperating with china in changing the International system and favouring more voices of emerging economies and weak nation. But it’s doesn’t give us a reason to not follow our own ambition. I am not favouring for coperation of western countries but asian country to protect the nature of Asia. The balance of Power is needed everywhere whether its at International level ( which #china is doing ) and regional level which India must pursue. There are serious cases for china aggression.
Really..? It’s an analysis and what’s wrong with India Plan if China have a plan.
Occupy someone else’s land & quarentine yourself !! See, you need guts full of self respect & bravery for that. The Indian idol worshippers & their sympathizers lack both. Throughout the history native Indians been ruled & enslaved by others. Out of all, Muslims taught them a bit about self-respect. Unlike European colonizers, Mughols called india home & never exported wealth. Today filthy Indians using Muslim bashing to give rise to Hindu nationalism. Only muslims are being murdered for eating beef !!! An ugly time-slap is waiting for both Indians & sympathizers like you.
Misplaced priorities and misguided geopolitical views.
How much money will it take? Where is the money going to be coming from? As a financial writer, Mr Kant should at least address the financing part.
Should India withdraw from the Shanghai Cooperation Organization? Or the AIIB?
Find a way to stop and reverse India’s senseless population explosion first, before taking on far more complex projects.
I agree. A marshal plan is a fantastic idea. Indian should get on with it….
The west been ruling the world for about 400 years. India has been the most effected one. 60% of Indian population doesn’t even have Toilets!!! Still they are conspiring against a power shift to the East, out of jealousy & slave mentality. Indians religiously worship those idols that are either beneficial or powerful. China has to act accordingly.
A Marshal plan without strings to increase prosperity in the region is good for everyone.
India should be 24/7 Alert because China and communist cannot be trusted.
India should concentrate in reforming its own domestic economy, by reducing the role and scope of the bureacratic and regulatory Administrative State, an infrastructure that it had inherited from the colonials, which has largely remained intact, and acts as a bearier and impedes the robust vigor that we would otherwise see in the private sector activites. "That government is best which governs least."
The Marsha Plan which was administered by the US post WW II to help lift the devasted infrasturucture of the Western European Democracies can never be duplicated for the reason that Western Europe had held it’s civilizational and the institutional memory, but no such thing exist in the absolute dysfunctional chaotic neighborhood of India, for they ain’t the West; lets face it they are for the most part stuck, knows not political order, and are lagly fudal or traditional, essentially immature. Any expenditure will be wasted away lining the pockets of feudal lordships making them further recalcitrant.
And the other dysfunction is due to the religion Islam; there they will continue to dwell in their Dark Age, no one is sure when and how or if ever there will be sunshine in those nations. Like Israel, the world would have to learn, to quarantine them within their borders so that they won’t do harm in jealous rage and envy, which is only going to escalete over time, that’s the way it has always been upwards of thousand years, bankable.
Finally, China, she is essentially not free (brutal totalitarian nighmare) and therefore largley a ticking bomb waiting to go off; any time there’s a down turn in the economy, and that is inevitable. Which will expose Chairman Xi Jinping’s hubris, for the Chinese people have gotten the taste, well, taste for the blessings of material prosperity (sans spiritual bliss) in the last several decades, and god forbid should you take the punch-bowl away, it could get nasty. All this materialism, India should rejoice, that India knows not; fortunately and blissfully India has kept their Western bequeath of freedom and democracy, which will keep her progressing in this lovely chaotic way, through the pull and tug progressing ever higher. India should never worry over China, or the little neighborhood, keep ignoring them for time will slap them silly.
Thanks, dear readers.
India should cooperate with China in the Belt and Road Initiative instead of playing into the Western narrative. Their insecurity is causing instability in the region. Their own cultural problem, the caste system in particular, is holding them down and they blame everybody or everything else for their own problems.
Clearly, this writer is an Obama puppet.