At the end of 2013, Chinese President Xi Jinping has presented country’s one of the most ambitious foreign policy and economic initiative. The plan aimed to connect China with Central Asia, Europe and littoral states of Indo Pacific. This mega project with economic and geo-strategic motives is known as ‘One Belt One Road’ (OBOR), it comprises of two component i.e. Silk road economic belt and Maritime Silk Road.
The target of OBOR is to connect Indian ocean with Pacific Ocean. This initiative will connect coastlines of China with South East Asia, South Asia, Middle East and Eastern coast of Africa. It is a network of railways, roads, oil pipelines, ports, power grids and other infrastructural objects, meant to connect People’s Republic of China to the whole world. It allows China to boost its economy, as well as of host states, thus the project is often termed as ‘Marshal Plan for Asia’.
Through this plan China is planning to play a bigger role in global affairs and make more friendly ties with the world states. This is a multi-prolonged project, economically motivated to bring incentives to host countries and intended to serve economic, diplomatic and strategic purposes.
China is achieving diplomatic and political power in international arena by OBOR and personifying its ‘Strings of Pearls’ strategy. The project is of immense economic value to Beijing, as it will also serve to address the domestic needs by revitalizing the economy of country. This will increase the demands for industrial output and bring economic transformation. OBOR will strengthen China’s soft power image in the globe and will helps to turn Indo Pacific region into Sino-centric security and economic region.
China will boost its trade and fine new markets for its products. It gives an opportunity to Beijing to counter USA’ s ‘Asia Pivot policy’, in the region and to negate anti-China propaganda at the hands of west. China wants to prove this mega project as a win- win situation for all.
Through Maritime Silk road China intended to facilitate the deployment of its troops in the Indian ocean and beyond. There exists a regional disparity between Eastern and Southern region of China, as these areas are lagged far behind, in terms of economic growth. OBOR will help to connect the regions to the world.
One belt one-road initiative is of great geo strategic significance for China as far as country’s economic and security interests are concerned. The burgeoning economy of this rising super power is highly dependent on the uninterrupted supplies of energy through maritime routes. However, Beijing feels threatened in the wake of USA’s increasing influence in South East Asia.
The changing geopolitical situation is prompting other regional states to reevaluate their position. China’s global rise is not an easy process and met with several geostrategic challenges coming from regional and global powers. USA maintained a military presence in South China Sea, and provides military support to the regional states, like Taiwan, Vietnam, Philippines, which poses a challenge to China’s dominant status. Other than that Japan and India are traditional competitor of China in Asian continent. Therefore, the project has far reached economic and geopolitical implications.
Indian ocean enjoys a special importance in world politics due to its immense strategic significance, as one of the naval strategist Alfred Mahan stated that, “Whoever control the Indian ocean dominates Asia.” It is a key transit route of energy supplies from Persian Gulf to the consumer states in Asia and Europe.
China’s increasing moves in the region has invited other regional players in the region and provokes the rivalry between the competitors. The contest for regional dominance between New Delhi and Beijing has made Indian Ocean a contested place. Although the two states do not explicitly acknowledge the existence of competition in the region, but their strategic moves are a clear indicator of strategic rivalry between India and China.
China has increase its military presence in the region and makes friendly ties with countries like Bangladesh, Pakistan, Sri Lanka and Myanmar through building port facilities. China’s major aim is to protect its Sea line of communication in Indian Ocean and to ensure the sustainable energy supplies to country by building an alternative route in wake of any threat to its supply routes. For this Beijing is involved in funding of commercial ports in South Asian states like, Gawadar in Pakistan, Chittagong in Bangladesh, Kyaukpyu in Myanmar and Hambantota in Sri Lanka and is also engaged to intensify economic, political and defense relations with these states.
Stepping up with competition with India, China has signed various agreements with states like Pakistan, Bangladesh and Sri lanka of short and long term in nature, by which Beijing wants to mitigate any kind of strategic vulnerability in Indian ocean.
On the other hand, India considers Indian ocean as its maritime backyard and Indian strategic community believes it be a ‘India’s ocean’. India is also a fast-growing economy, to cater its increased energy consumption; the country is highly dependent on oil imports and seaborne energy trade.
New Delhi is uncomfortable with China’s growing influence in Indian ocean and its close ties with the littoral states. To mitigate this challenge, India has devise a balancing strategy to neutralize China’s growing influence. India is taking counter initiatives by broadening cooperation with USA, Iran, Sri lanka, Thailand Myanmar and Singapore. India has adopted foreign policy strategies like, ‘Neighborhood First policy’ and ‘Act East policy’.
Another state, which is concerned over China’s moves in Indian ocean is USA. Sino- USA competition can better be comprehended in terms of ‘Thucydides trap’. USA has definite set of objectives to follow in Indian ocean like defending the choke points, ensure smooth transit routes and keep an influence on littoral states of IOR. USA and India share common concern against China and therefore the two states have entered into a strategic partnership.
New Delhi and Washington are cooperating extensively in many fields on interest and majorly defense sector. The two states regularly carried out joint maritime patrol, joint military exercises of naval, air force and army in Strait of Malacca, which gives an implicit message to China to refrain from any hostile act in future.
In a recent meeting of Shanghai Cooperation organization, India was the only country to not support the ambitious OBOR initiative and express reservations on ‘China Pakistan Economic Corridor’ and claiming that it will breach India’s integrity. Many experts believe that India must look beyond the traditional rivalry and cooperate in project to bolster its trade volume and fetch more investment.
To shrink the silky thread of discussion, it is evident that one belt one road project gives an ideal platform to Beijing, to project its soft image and increase influence globally. But this mega project can only become a success when it is inclusive to all regional states, mainly India. The rivalry in the Indian ocean is likely to intensify in coming years, but things could be improved by collaboration and more liberalized policies, which could make this project a win- win model for all.