http://idrw.org/what-changes-in-obo...o-play-major-role-in-obor-policy/#more-135599
The OBOR (One Belt One Road) Policy is a so called development strategy proposed by China to improve connectivity and cooperation between China and Eurasia. It consists of two components- 1. Silk Road Economic Belt (SREB) viz. land based 2. Maritime Silk Road (MSR). This project will deeply integrate Chinese Economy with the Global Economy. But India recently boycotted the first summit on OBOR.
WHY INDIA NOT PARTICIPATING?
India boycotted the Belt and Road Summit not only because one of its corridors (CPEC) pass through Azad Kashmir but also because the entire network is ignoring Indian interests in all respects. The SREB have six corridors two of them connect eastern and western Russia to China, one from China to Turkey, one from China to Pakistan (CPEC), one from China to Singapore and a small one, China-Bangladesh-India-Myanmar (BCIM) Corridor to connect China to India. It is a Chinese Initiative and no doubt, the key interests should be to serve China first but why India should participate? It is not improving Indian connectivity to Eurasia. Its aim is to flood Indian and European Markets with Chinese products. Even if India allows CPEC to be constructed (which seems impossible) and considers OBOR as a truly economic initiative, There are not enough reasons for India to participate in OBOR. India doesn’t share connectivity with any of the corridors to export its goods to Eurasia. Apart from that, it doesn’t solve the problem of supplying Indian goods to the needy Afghan People. So, the entire policy doesn’t have any economic or humanitarian interests for India.
WHAT HIDDEN INTERESTS CHINESE MAY HAVE WITH OBOR?
Experts around the world believe that OBOR is more than a mere connectivity project. Some of the possible motives of China behind this project maybe:
1. To challenge US centric Trade arrangements and project China as regional superpower.
2. To undermine export potential of Indian Markets as these Indian Goods may pose a threat to Chinese Goods in the future.
3. To encircle India and to use the CPEC for military purposes in any future conflict with India. 4. For supplying goods and resources to China if South China Sea (SCS) tensions rise and US or any other country blocks the passage of goods at the Malacca Straits.
5. To make poor countries an economic colony of China and begin a new era of economic colonization.
6. To create Naval Bases in poor countries in name of safeguarding the belt.
WHY CHINA NEEDS INDIA ON THIS PROJECT?
India is not an island country or a poor country which can be ignored in any economic initiative. Indian participation is very important not only due to strategic location of the Indian Subcontinent but also because of the fact that India is a huge market. If an Anti-China mindset is developed in Indian Citizens it can cripple Chinese Economy. Apart from that, Indian participation will reduce Chinese investments. Countries like Pakistan cannot help China in building these corridors. Only an economically sound partner like India can help China in realizing this trillion $ project. India can also play a key role in the other part of the OBOR viz. Maritime Silk Road (MSR) by integrating its current ports to the network
WHAT CHINA CAN DO TO ASSURE INDIAN PARTICIPATION?
First of all, no need to ban CPEC. If China plans to use Gwadar Port as a key Port in the entire initiative let them do so. But rather than going through Azad Kashmir it should go through Jammu and Kashmir (J&K) in India. The Indian government is already investing billions in the development of this region. It will also reduce economic burden on Pakistan and China. If Indian Projects are integrated with the Chinese Corridors then it will reduce Chinese Investment in the project and allow India to develop the region at a faster rate. This is an offer which India cannot refuse. CPEC if renamed CIPEC (China-India-Pakistan Economic Corridor) and passing through J&K will sort out most of Indian issues related to this corridor. It is a win-win situation for all countries in this corridor.
Secondly, India should be allowed to invest in developing branches to other corridors in the SREB to ensure Indian connectivity with the other corridors via J&K and Xinjiang bypassing Pakistan. This will allow Indians to invest in Xinjiang as a return gift.
Thirdly, India should be given access to Gwadar Port (if needed) and a further extension of CIPEC will be looked upon to connect Afghanistan and Iran in the OBOR as it should be a project for everyone ignoring individual interests. This will help India supply goods to terror struck Afghanistan. Apart, from that the development of the Chabahar Port in Iran will become a part of the OROB.
Given below is a picture from Wikipedia which shows OBOR corridors. In the picture, the green colour shows the changes in OBOR which can assure Indian participation.
The aim of this article is not to undermine China or the Chinese OBOR initiative. OBOR is a unique project but Indian interests and concerns should be given its space. CPEC is not a pet project. It will decide the future of Asia and needs to be developed in a manner that it becomes a win-win scenario to all the member countries. Also, the poor countries should analyze if the project will give them something of strategic importance or it will put them under the burden of huge loans which they cannot repay. Especially, Pakistan as it seems to be really excited about the project but they should analyze how they will benefit from this project? And how they can lower the costs which they have to pay?
idrw.org . Read more at India No 1 Defence News Website http://idrw.org/what-changes-in-obo...o-play-major-role-in-obor-policy/#more-135599 .
The OBOR (One Belt One Road) Policy is a so called development strategy proposed by China to improve connectivity and cooperation between China and Eurasia. It consists of two components- 1. Silk Road Economic Belt (SREB) viz. land based 2. Maritime Silk Road (MSR). This project will deeply integrate Chinese Economy with the Global Economy. But India recently boycotted the first summit on OBOR.
WHY INDIA NOT PARTICIPATING?
India boycotted the Belt and Road Summit not only because one of its corridors (CPEC) pass through Azad Kashmir but also because the entire network is ignoring Indian interests in all respects. The SREB have six corridors two of them connect eastern and western Russia to China, one from China to Turkey, one from China to Pakistan (CPEC), one from China to Singapore and a small one, China-Bangladesh-India-Myanmar (BCIM) Corridor to connect China to India. It is a Chinese Initiative and no doubt, the key interests should be to serve China first but why India should participate? It is not improving Indian connectivity to Eurasia. Its aim is to flood Indian and European Markets with Chinese products. Even if India allows CPEC to be constructed (which seems impossible) and considers OBOR as a truly economic initiative, There are not enough reasons for India to participate in OBOR. India doesn’t share connectivity with any of the corridors to export its goods to Eurasia. Apart from that, it doesn’t solve the problem of supplying Indian goods to the needy Afghan People. So, the entire policy doesn’t have any economic or humanitarian interests for India.
WHAT HIDDEN INTERESTS CHINESE MAY HAVE WITH OBOR?
Experts around the world believe that OBOR is more than a mere connectivity project. Some of the possible motives of China behind this project maybe:
1. To challenge US centric Trade arrangements and project China as regional superpower.
2. To undermine export potential of Indian Markets as these Indian Goods may pose a threat to Chinese Goods in the future.
3. To encircle India and to use the CPEC for military purposes in any future conflict with India. 4. For supplying goods and resources to China if South China Sea (SCS) tensions rise and US or any other country blocks the passage of goods at the Malacca Straits.
5. To make poor countries an economic colony of China and begin a new era of economic colonization.
6. To create Naval Bases in poor countries in name of safeguarding the belt.
WHY CHINA NEEDS INDIA ON THIS PROJECT?
India is not an island country or a poor country which can be ignored in any economic initiative. Indian participation is very important not only due to strategic location of the Indian Subcontinent but also because of the fact that India is a huge market. If an Anti-China mindset is developed in Indian Citizens it can cripple Chinese Economy. Apart from that, Indian participation will reduce Chinese investments. Countries like Pakistan cannot help China in building these corridors. Only an economically sound partner like India can help China in realizing this trillion $ project. India can also play a key role in the other part of the OBOR viz. Maritime Silk Road (MSR) by integrating its current ports to the network
WHAT CHINA CAN DO TO ASSURE INDIAN PARTICIPATION?
First of all, no need to ban CPEC. If China plans to use Gwadar Port as a key Port in the entire initiative let them do so. But rather than going through Azad Kashmir it should go through Jammu and Kashmir (J&K) in India. The Indian government is already investing billions in the development of this region. It will also reduce economic burden on Pakistan and China. If Indian Projects are integrated with the Chinese Corridors then it will reduce Chinese Investment in the project and allow India to develop the region at a faster rate. This is an offer which India cannot refuse. CPEC if renamed CIPEC (China-India-Pakistan Economic Corridor) and passing through J&K will sort out most of Indian issues related to this corridor. It is a win-win situation for all countries in this corridor.
Secondly, India should be allowed to invest in developing branches to other corridors in the SREB to ensure Indian connectivity with the other corridors via J&K and Xinjiang bypassing Pakistan. This will allow Indians to invest in Xinjiang as a return gift.
Thirdly, India should be given access to Gwadar Port (if needed) and a further extension of CIPEC will be looked upon to connect Afghanistan and Iran in the OBOR as it should be a project for everyone ignoring individual interests. This will help India supply goods to terror struck Afghanistan. Apart, from that the development of the Chabahar Port in Iran will become a part of the OROB.
Given below is a picture from Wikipedia which shows OBOR corridors. In the picture, the green colour shows the changes in OBOR which can assure Indian participation.
The aim of this article is not to undermine China or the Chinese OBOR initiative. OBOR is a unique project but Indian interests and concerns should be given its space. CPEC is not a pet project. It will decide the future of Asia and needs to be developed in a manner that it becomes a win-win scenario to all the member countries. Also, the poor countries should analyze if the project will give them something of strategic importance or it will put them under the burden of huge loans which they cannot repay. Especially, Pakistan as it seems to be really excited about the project but they should analyze how they will benefit from this project? And how they can lower the costs which they have to pay?
idrw.org . Read more at India No 1 Defence News Website http://idrw.org/what-changes-in-obo...o-play-major-role-in-obor-policy/#more-135599 .
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