OBOR: Dragon’s Strategy Wary Elephant

Connectivity projects must be based on acceptable international norms, effective governance, transparency in reforms and respect towards sovereignty and territorial integrity of the nations. The China-Pakistan Economic corridor and now OBOR, made it difficult for countries like India to accept such vision that indicates significant threat across the priorities.

One Belt One Road initiative shall go along a long axis of the region that is rich in natural resources. Xinjiang and neighbouring Central Asian countries are rich in oil and natural gas. It has long been the strategy of China to acquire oil and gas production rights to secure itself from any unprecedented crisis. It was also meant to secure China’s supply lines from disruptions. As a potential substitute of Malacca straits, the Maritime Silk Road acts as a boon for exploring oil and natural gas.

China is playing along the game of power politics strategically. United States has allies in the South and Southeast Asian region. One may perceive that China can become a hegemon in Asia by way of displacing US through the OBOR initiative. China’s wider economic and strategic engagement may be seen as pivotal attempts to reduce the counteraction abilities of smaller nations as against Chinese military and naval aspirations.  The Maritime Silk Road is a component of OBOR, which in strategic sense, has the prospects to wage larger economic thrust to china for the same. This is quite an alarming situation with respect to sovereignty and security of South and Southeast Asian countries.

India is the only country in the region that could not be melted with such lucrative propositions. OBOR includes a plan to build a pipeline from Kashgar (in Xinjiang Province) to Gwadar (in Pakistan). Nepal, a country which is sandwiched between ‘Elephant’ and ‘Dragon’, formally extended its consent to OBOR initiative generating serious concerns for India. For Pakistan, it raises opportunity for itself and vulnerability for India. On the contrary, India shares an open border with Nepal. OBOR consists provisions to collaborate between the partner nations for the construction of projects in the areas of cross-border railways and highways, transmission grids, special economic zones and ports. This, in turn, undoubtedly raises security issues to India following significant Chinese influence.

It can be said that China is trying to emerge as a dominant figure in the region through OBOR. The initiative, if successful, shall potentially fuel china to exploit energy, power, security and sovereignty in the region. OBOR is not only an economic venture but a strategic plan, whereby China may want to maintain a firm grip on the roads, railways and maritime routes for better alternative arrangement. It will develop extension along Nepal, Bhutan and link Kolkata to china through Bangladesh and Myanmar. Therefore, it is crucial for India to deal with its neighbours sensitively and ensure they are not alienated. At this juncture, the ‘Elephant’ will be reluctant to join the ‘Dragon’ considering OBOR to be a pure economic venture.

By- Binita Kumari, M.Phil. IFPS, Calcutta University