Beijing: China should detail projects under the Maritime Silk Road plan in the Indian Ocean to address India’s security concerns as its support is crucial for the key project, a state-run Chinese think tank said today. Stating that “India bears great significance” for the Maritime Silk Road (MSR) which is part of the Belt and Road plan initiated by President Xi Jinping, an article by Long Xingchun, Director of the Centre for Indian Studies at China’s West Normal University, said detailing specific projects will help India to evaluate pros and cons to take a decision.
“India, which has enormous influence on whether the initiative, especially the 21st Century Maritime Silk Road, can be implemented smoothly, has not officially responded. Some scholars therefore believe that the Indian government’s official attitude of ‘researching’ and ‘considering’ the proposals is actually ‘rejecting’ them,” the article published in the state-run Global Times said.
The Belt and Road initiatives aimed at expanding road, rail and port infrastructure to further China’s trade and influence around the world has a maze of network connectivity which included a Eurasian highway connecting China with Europe through central Asia, the MSR, Bangladesh, India, China, Myanmar (BCIM) Economic Corridor and the Pakistan-China Economic Corridor (CPEC).
Xi has set up USD 40 billion Silk Road fund to finance the projects. Also, the newly formed Asia Infrastructure Investment Bank (AIIB) and New Development Bank floated by BRICS countries was expected to play a key role in financing the projects.
While India backs BCIM which is aimed improving connectivity between its Northeast with China and neighbouring countries, it has objected to CPEC as it passes through Pakistan-occupied Kashmir (POK).
India has maintained silence on MSR over concerns about its potential for expanding China’s influence in its immediate neighbourhood. Indian officials assert that India cannot give a blanket endorsement of Chinese initiatives as it has its own strategic projects like ‘Mausam’ and ‘Spice Route’ in the Indian Ocean.
But within the shared interests and synergy the two sides can work, officials have said. Chinese officials in recent months have been expressing interest to align MSR with India’s projects in order to get New Delhi’s support.
In his article, Long stated that as the most important nation in the Indian Ocean, India is going through a high speed economic growth and can be a significant partner on the maritime Silk Road in fields such as infrastructures, trade, finance and people-to-people exchanges.
