CHINAS ONE ROAD ONE BELT AND INDIA

WHAT IS OBOR?

In the ancient days, China, and much of East Asia, was connected to the rest of
the world through a route that got its name from Chinas biggest export silk.
China is looking to rebuild a route that will connect Asia, Africa and Europe a
new Silk Road.

The One Belt One Road (OBOR) initiative will include roads, railways and ports
and seems like a natural step for the worlds biggest trading country. Chinese
President Xi Jinpings baby, the One Belt One Road was announced in 2013. Since
then projects have been launched in various countries like Tajikistan, Thailand,
Kenya and Vietnam financed by Chinese loans. While some countries like Pakistan
and Afghanistan are keen on OBOR, countries like India and Indonesia wary
because of the shift in status quo that this project could cause in sensitive areas
like Kashmir and the South China Sea. The area covered by One Belt, One
Road can count on 55% of global GDP, it is inhabited by 70% of the global
population and holds 75% of the worlds energy resources; this great plan, which
involves 65 nations, has for China several targets, but most important aim is to
strengthen its role in the Eurasian area through the construction of modern
logistics and energetic infrastructures.

This infrastructure plan includes to two main components that connect China to
the Old Continent:

A)the first component (One Belt) is the land-based Silk Road Economic Belt that
from China reaches Europe after passing through Central Asia, Middle East and
Russia

B) the second component (One Road) is the oceangoing Maritime Silk Road that
arrives in the heart of the Mediterranean after skirting Southeast Asia, East Africa
and the Middle East.
RECENT DEVELOPMENTS

China held a conference centered around OBOR in Beijing named The Grandiose
Belt and Road Forum .and heads of states, governments and representatives from
29 countries and international organisations were present, including the US,
Russia and the IMF. India stayed away from it but the global representation
definitely legitimised the initiative.

WHY IS INDIA OPPOSED TO OBOR?

1. As part of the OBOR, in Pakistan, there is a proposed $1.3 billion effort to

expand the Karakoram Highway as part of the China-Pakistan Economic
Corridor (CPEC). Now this involves power plants, roads and railways that
will span the length of Pakistan and link Chinas western region of Xinjiang
to the Gwadar port, which was built with Chinese help. But the CPEC runs
through Pakistan-occupied Kashmir. The establishment of a project with
China in the disputed territory gives Pakistans occupation of the area a
degree of legitimacy. And Indias clear stand on the issue is that Pakistan is
illegally occupying Indian territory.
2. Getting on board OBOR or talking to China and Pakistan about CPEC would
be problematic for India as it could be seen as conceding ground to
Pakistan. It would also involve a third country which goes against Indias
stand that this is a bilateral issue which needs to be worked out between
the two neighbors
3. Moreover India feels that this particular imfrastrutural project could puch
smaller countires like Nepal,Bhutan , Bamgladesh into debt trap and can
ruin their ecology and distrupt local communities
4. Chinas agenda about this project is unclear and sounds more like a effort
to enhance political influence over the region.

Theoretically if Indias political and strategic concerns are met, the initiative could
be seen as viable one because except Bhutan all other neighbors of India area
part of this project and India is keen to have connectivity with them.
However, tense bilateral relations with China may lead to mistrust and Indias
growing concerns over Chinese hegemonic intentions in South Asia and Indo
Pacific Region, make it practically unlikely that India will ever consider joining this
project.