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| Credit: MR edition |
China's OBOR (One belt and One Road) initiative has puzzled India from the beginning. Not just the scale of China's ambition but also the consequences of it. In a way, it shows the unpreparedness of India despite being a contentious ally for a long time. The lack of vision of the South Asian giant persuaded its political class to blink at the Silk road initiative at the beginning (till the commencement of the first Belt and Road Forum). But very soon, in a rush India came up with a game-plan, a reactionary move and no match in the intent, to counter China hastily which turned out to expose the resourceless-ness of the former. As of now one way or another, it is catching up the global attention after the tragic "debt-trap" episode of Hambantota port, which had fallen into the arms of Chinese firms.
Trade and infrastructure funding, a masquerader for strategic investments, is not a new "specter" haunting South Asian geopolitical space, both the USA and Japan played an important role from the beginning of the cold war. But the trust deficit enjoyed by China makes way for the perplexity among Indian policymakers. Since the 'opening-up' in 1979 China progressed gradually to today's stature with a humongous Forex vault and adequate funding infrastructures, showing an exit for the former dominant forces. The current nationalistic fervor arousing in India, due to its ruling elite and right-wing consolidation, has a logical resonance with the Xi Jinping's "Asia for Asians" rhetoric. But then why India has to align with Western democracies in opposing China?
1962 war defeat, world's largest border dispute, lack of respect for Indian territorial sovereignty and integrity by claiming parts of North eastern India and supporting extremist groups on the border areas are some of the major fault-lines.
To ask this question is nothing short of showing disregard for history, as a foreign policy cannot be weaved from the vacuum. The 1962 war defeat, the world's largest border dispute, lack of respect for Indian territorial sovereignty and integrity by claiming parts of Northeastern India and supporting extremist groups in the border areas are some of the major fault-lines India shares with the world's second-largest economy.
India's reluctance stems from this history and inconsistencies in confidence-building measures from China. As of date, India faces the largest trade deficit with china among its trading partners. With its growing economy and a big chunk of demographic dividend, India aspires to be a regional power. But the strong footprints of Chinese, in terms of investment and naval presence, in the Indian Ocean region and South Asian neighborhood feeds the suspicion and growing antagonism in India, adding to the baggage of the complex relationship. The urge of replacing US dominance in the Asian power paradigm is evident from the intense diplomatic efforts put forth by Beijing in the roll-out of BRI (Belt and Road initiative). The continuous persuasion to convince New Delhi in terms of strategic implications of the connectivity funding ended in failure and the reason for it proves to be detrimental. One of the major components of the scheme, CPEC (China Pakistan Economic Corridor) faces huge backlash from India as it directly infringes her land sovereignty i.e. POK (Pakistan Occupied Kashmir, ceded some space to China). So, until the border dispute is resolved, there is no way forward for the acknowledgment or appreciation of the whole initiative from the Indian side.
In a path to become Superpower, China's indifference towards India's concerns serves to be the raison d'etre for the latter's alignment with Western liberal forces, and -unlike Beijing- to work out for the alternatives with more flexibility and transparency. This presents a glimpse of complexity in the Indian foreign policy-making, standing distinctly aside from the narratives of mainstream dichotomous echo-chambers. For the longer term and larger good, Beijing has to see the reality and get resolved to remove the constraints with New Delhi and relax the thorny relationship with some definitive measures.
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