SIFY
Mon, May 15, 2017
Chinese President Xi Jinping attends the round-table summit phase one sessions of the Belt and Road Forum at the International Conference Center in Yanqi Lake Monday in Beijing. Image: AP New Delhi: China is hosting a grand two-day summit to showcase its plans to build a network of trade routes — One Belt, One Road — that will intends to connect Asia, Africa, the Middle East and Europe. The OBOR initiative will include roads, railways and ports and is, according to China, a ‘natural step’ for the world’s biggest trading country.
Inspired by the silk road of yore, the trade routes between Europe and Asia, the OBOR project aims at becoming a vast network of sea and land routes across dozens of countries. But much of the world – especially neighbouring India – aren’t very happy about a project that seems to be more than a mere economic initiative and seems intent on changing the status quo in some places. What exactly is OBOR? Touted as Chinese President Xi Jinping’s baby, the OBOR initiative focuses on improving connectivity and cooperation among Asian countries, Africa, China and Europe. The emphasis is on enhancing land as well as maritime routes. The policy is significant for China since it aims to boost domestic growth in the country. Experts have noted that OBOR is also a part of China’s strategy for economic diplomacy. Since Beijing has been excluded from the G7, the OBOR policy might just provide China an opportunity to continue its economic development. Since 2013 several projects have been launched in various countries like Tajikistan, Thailand, Kenya and Vietnam with finances procured via China. While some countries like Pakistan and Afghanistan are keen on OBOR, countries like India and Indonesia are wary because of the shift in status quo that this project could cause in sensitive areas like Kashmir and the South China Sea. Chinese officials, however, reject the suggestion that the OBOR is a power play. “The Chinese government has never wished to control any other country’s government,” a Cabinet official, Oi Xiaoli, told the AP. “We feel in contacts between countries, we need to talk about studying benefits, studying mutual profit.” What is the Belt and Road Forum? Beijing will host the two-day Belt and Road Forum starting May 14 facilitating high-level delegations talks among leaders, including 29 Heads of State, on OBOR. India has stated that it shall not participate in the forum. India opposes OBOR India’s decision to skip OBOR Summit in Beijing is a strategic call with the mega connectivity initiative in its current form in various parts of South Asia having no less implications than China Pakistan Economic Corridor. OBOR in its current form encompasses all of South Asia sans India and Bhutan and enhances China’s strategic heft in the same countries where India also has huge stakes including connectivity initiatives and infrastructure projects launched during past three years. Beijing did not take New Delhi in confidence when it unilaterally decided to introduce and implement projects in many of the South Asian countries. Such projects in their current form not only have the potential to push the countries into financial crisis having direct bearing on India but also have strategic implications for Delhi during times of conflict. In message to China’s unilateral approach, MEA Spokesperson Gopal Baglay on Saturday night stated that India is of firm belief that connectivity initiatives must be based on universally recognized international norms, good governance, rule of law, openness, transparency and equality. Opposition in Pakistan Several students bodies and political organisations including the Karakoram Students Organisation, the Balawaristan National Students Organisation, the Gilgit Baltistan United Movement and the Balawaristan National Front have been protesting against OBOR in Pakistan’s Gilgit-Baltistan region. The organisations described the project as an illegal attempt to grab Gilgit and see it as a “Road of ghulami (slavery) for Gilgit-Baltistan”. Protestors across Gilgit see the CPEC and OBOR as a ploy by China to take over their territory. Carrying placards and banners stating “Stop Chinese Imperialism” protestors have been calling on the world community to stop the Chinese transgression on Gilgit’s soil which remains disputed since 1948-49. They claimed that China has entered Gilgit-Baltistan illegally with the help of Pakistan, adding that a well conceived two-pronged strategy has been put in place to facilitate continued Chinese military presence in Pakistan and to counter the US through CPEC.
