JOIN USIndia opposed to China's One-Belt-One-Road
India reaffirmed its opposition of One-Belt-One-Road initiative of China, with Foreign Secretary S Jaishankar stating that New Delhi will join multilateral connectivity initiatives in Asia, only if they were pursued through a consultative process.
“The interactive dynamic between strategic interests and connectivity initiatives — a universal proposition — is on particular display in our continent. The key issue is whether we will build our connectivity through consultative processes or more unilateral decisions,” foreign secretary said, adding “Our preference is for the former and the record bears this out quite clearly.”
He was delivering a keynote address on “Asia: Regional and Global Connectivity” at the Raisina Dialogue in New Delhi. Without directly referring to One-Belt-One-Road initiative of China, Jaishankar made it clear that New Delhi viewed the grand connectivity initiative by Chinese President Xi Jinping distinctly from the Asian Infrastructure Investment Bank (AIIB), which was also conceived by Beijing, but was set up by over 50 nations collectively.
India has not only joined the AIIB, but is the second largest shareholder in the bank after China.
“Wherever that option (pursuing connectivity with a consultative approach) is on the table, as most recently it did in the AIIB, we have responded positively. But we cannot be impervious to the reality that others may see connectivity as an exercise in hard-wiring that influences choices,” said Jaishankar. “This should be discouraged, because particularly in the absence of agreed security architecture in Asia, it could give rise to unnecessary competitiveness.”
Xi has since 2013 been articulating the idea of a “21st century Maritime Silk Road” reviving economic connectivity between the Pacific and Indian Oceans and linking China’s coastline with Southeast Asia, the Gulf and the eastern coast of Africa.
He has also been proposing a “Silk Road Economic Belt” reviving the ancient link between China and Mediterranean through central Asia. The two projects are now together called One-Belt-One-Road initiative and the Chinese government has been pulling all stops over the past year to elicit support from other countries and make it a success.
Beijing’s new plan to spread its tentacles further in Indian Ocean region and Central Asia, however, caused unease in New Delhi, which has already been wary of China’s strategic assets encircling India.
“Connectivity should diffuse national rivalries, not add to regional tensions,” said Jaishankar.
India has been pursuing its own connectivity projects, striking deals with its neighbours in South Asia, stepping up its engagement with South East Asian nations under the “Act East” policy and working with Afghanistan, Iran, Russia and other Central Asian nations.