📝Heart of Asia Process
🔸 Heart of Asia process or the Istanbul Process, started in 2011 to provide more assistance to Afghanistan. The process has three main pillars:
🔸Political consultations
🔸 Confidence Building Measures (CBMs)
🔸Cooperation with Regional Organizations
🔸This platform was established to address the shared challenges and interests of Afghanistan and its neighbors and regional partners. The Heart of Asia is comprised of 14 participating countries, 17 supporting countries, and 12 supporting regional and international organizations.
🔸 The Heart of Asia provides a platform for results-oriented regional cooperation by placing Afghanistan at its center, in recognition of the fact that a secure and stable Afghanistan is vital to the prosperity of the Heart of Asia region.
🔸India is the lead country for Trade, Commerce and Investment CBM of Heart of Asia Process,
🔸 India hosted Senior Officials Meeting of the Heart of Asia countries in New Delhi in
January 2014 and with the help of FICCI, India organized a 6th Regional Technical Group
(RTG) in New Delhi on November 2015.
🔸India hosted the Sixth Ministerial conference of Heart of Asia in December 2016 at Amritsar. It was Jointly Inaugurated by PM Modi and President Ashraf Ghani of Afghanistan
🔸 Heart of Asia process or the Istanbul Process, started in 2011 to provide more assistance to Afghanistan. The process has three main pillars:
🔸Political consultations
🔸 Confidence Building Measures (CBMs)
🔸Cooperation with Regional Organizations
🔸This platform was established to address the shared challenges and interests of Afghanistan and its neighbors and regional partners. The Heart of Asia is comprised of 14 participating countries, 17 supporting countries, and 12 supporting regional and international organizations.
🔸 The Heart of Asia provides a platform for results-oriented regional cooperation by placing Afghanistan at its center, in recognition of the fact that a secure and stable Afghanistan is vital to the prosperity of the Heart of Asia region.
🔸India is the lead country for Trade, Commerce and Investment CBM of Heart of Asia Process,
🔸 India hosted Senior Officials Meeting of the Heart of Asia countries in New Delhi in
January 2014 and with the help of FICCI, India organized a 6th Regional Technical Group
(RTG) in New Delhi on November 2015.
🔸India hosted the Sixth Ministerial conference of Heart of Asia in December 2016 at Amritsar. It was Jointly Inaugurated by PM Modi and President Ashraf Ghani of Afghanistan
📝India’s Contribution in Reconstruction Efforts
🔸 India has committed over 2 billion US$ for development efforts in Afghanistan.
🔸It has financed and built significant projects such as:
1.Delaram Zaranj Highway,
2. Parliament Building,
3. India Afghanistan Friendship Dam/Selma Dam, Hari River, Heart Province Transmission lines to Kabul.
🔸 While it has avoided its own military presence, India views foreign military presence in Afghanistan as indispensable in promoting political stability and development in the country. The USA has also urged India to get involved more.
🔸 India believes in invest and endure strategy for Afghanistan.
🔸 India has committed over 2 billion US$ for development efforts in Afghanistan.
🔸It has financed and built significant projects such as:
1.Delaram Zaranj Highway,
2. Parliament Building,
3. India Afghanistan Friendship Dam/Selma Dam, Hari River, Heart Province Transmission lines to Kabul.
🔸 While it has avoided its own military presence, India views foreign military presence in Afghanistan as indispensable in promoting political stability and development in the country. The USA has also urged India to get involved more.
🔸 India believes in invest and endure strategy for Afghanistan.
📝Challenges of Connectivity
🔸Pakistan, in particular, has been opposed to any growth in Indian influence and views Afghanistan as essential for achieving strategic depth.
🔸Despite India's requests for direct land access to Afghanistan, Pakistan has refused to provide such facility over its strategic concerns.
🔸 Alternate routes India could use to access Afghanistan: in the absence of direct land access, India is also working with Afghanistan and Iran to develop trilateral transit. Participation in development of Chahbahar port will augment our connectivity with Afghanistan and beyond.
🔸India in October 2017 began shipment of wheat to Afghanistan through the Iranian port of Chabahar.
🔸 India and Afghanistan have also established two air corridors - one between Delhi and Kabul and the other Kandahar to Delhi - to carry goods at subsidised rates.
🔸Pakistan, in particular, has been opposed to any growth in Indian influence and views Afghanistan as essential for achieving strategic depth.
🔸Despite India's requests for direct land access to Afghanistan, Pakistan has refused to provide such facility over its strategic concerns.
🔸 Alternate routes India could use to access Afghanistan: in the absence of direct land access, India is also working with Afghanistan and Iran to develop trilateral transit. Participation in development of Chahbahar port will augment our connectivity with Afghanistan and beyond.
🔸India in October 2017 began shipment of wheat to Afghanistan through the Iranian port of Chabahar.
🔸 India and Afghanistan have also established two air corridors - one between Delhi and Kabul and the other Kandahar to Delhi - to carry goods at subsidised rates.
📝Multiple Aspects of Cooperation
🔶 India delivered three Russia-made Mi-25 attack helicopters to Afghanistan in 2015 and 2016. Reports suggest it is to deliver an additional helicopter soon.
🔶 India remains wary of any efforts to reconcile with Taliban. In course of time India
reconciled with the fact that others including the US wanted to include Taliban in the talks, however the Indian position includes the Taliban who renounce violence.
🔶 For India any process of reconciliation should remain Afghan led, transparent and
inclusive. Thus, India stresses so much on the capacity building of the Afghan government.
🔶India is also considering a run of the river project on the Kabul river. This can put pressure on Pakistan in the context of the Indus Water Treaty. Pakistan and Afghanistan have now river water treaty.
🔶 India delivered three Russia-made Mi-25 attack helicopters to Afghanistan in 2015 and 2016. Reports suggest it is to deliver an additional helicopter soon.
🔶 India remains wary of any efforts to reconcile with Taliban. In course of time India
reconciled with the fact that others including the US wanted to include Taliban in the talks, however the Indian position includes the Taliban who renounce violence.
🔶 For India any process of reconciliation should remain Afghan led, transparent and
inclusive. Thus, India stresses so much on the capacity building of the Afghan government.
🔶India is also considering a run of the river project on the Kabul river. This can put pressure on Pakistan in the context of the Indus Water Treaty. Pakistan and Afghanistan have now river water treaty.
📝Evolution Of India China Relations ( Part 2 )
🔶November 1956: Zhou Enlai visits India for the second time on a goodwill mission.
🔶18 December 1956: Chinese nationals who entered Ladakh were illegally detained and later sent back to China.
🔶 September 1957: Indian Vice-President S. Radhakrishnan’s visits China.
🔶 4 September 1958: India officially objects to the inclusion of a big chunk of Northern Assam and NEFA in the China Pictorial - an official organ of the Chinese Peoples’ Republic.
🔶 23 January 1959: Zhou Enlai spells out for the first time China’s claims to over 40,000 square miles of Indian territory both in Ladakh and NEFA.
🔶 3 April 1959: Dalai Lama escapes from Lhasa and crosses into Indian territory. India’s decision to grant asylum to him sours relations with
Beijing.
🔶 8 September 1959: China refuses to accept the Mc Mohan Line with Zhou Enlai stating that China was not a signatory to the 1842 Peace Treaty between British India and England.Further, Beijing laid claims to almost 50,000 square miles of Indian territory in Sikkim and Bhutan.
🔶 19 April 1960: A meeting in New Delhi between Zhou Enlai and Nehru to address the boundary question ends in
deadlock.
🔶 February 1961: China refuses to discuss the Sino-Bhutanese and Sino-Sikkimese boundary disputes and further occupies 12,000 square miles in the western sector of the Sino- Indian border15-18 November
🔶1962: A massive Chinese attack on the eastern front, Tawang, Walong in the western sector over run, Rezang La and the Chushul airport shelled. Chinese troops capture Bomdila in the NEFA region
🔶 21 November 1962: China declares a unilateral ceasefire along the entire border and announces withdrawal of its troops to position 20km behind the LAC.
🔶8 December 1962: China sends a note signed by Zhou Enlai to India reiterating the three-point ceasefire formula.
🛡️ Both parties would respect the Line of Actual Control,
🛡️ the armed forces would withdraw 20km from this line and;
🛡️ talks between the prime-ministers of both countries to seek a friendly settlement.
🔶India accepts and later on 10 December endorses Colombo proposals.
🔶2 March 1963: China and Pakistan sign a boundary settlement in Beijing between Kashmir and Xinjiang where Pakistan ceded 5080 sq. km of Pakistan occupied Kashmir territory.
🔶27 August 1965: China accuses India of crossing the Sikkim-China boundary.
🔶 30 November 1965: Chinese troops intrude into north Sikkim and NEFA once again.
🔶 1986: Differences surface over the precise limits of the McMahon Line in the Sumdorung Chu area of Arunachal Pradesh.
🔶November 1956: Zhou Enlai visits India for the second time on a goodwill mission.
🔶18 December 1956: Chinese nationals who entered Ladakh were illegally detained and later sent back to China.
🔶 September 1957: Indian Vice-President S. Radhakrishnan’s visits China.
🔶 4 September 1958: India officially objects to the inclusion of a big chunk of Northern Assam and NEFA in the China Pictorial - an official organ of the Chinese Peoples’ Republic.
🔶 23 January 1959: Zhou Enlai spells out for the first time China’s claims to over 40,000 square miles of Indian territory both in Ladakh and NEFA.
🔶 3 April 1959: Dalai Lama escapes from Lhasa and crosses into Indian territory. India’s decision to grant asylum to him sours relations with
Beijing.
🔶 8 September 1959: China refuses to accept the Mc Mohan Line with Zhou Enlai stating that China was not a signatory to the 1842 Peace Treaty between British India and England.Further, Beijing laid claims to almost 50,000 square miles of Indian territory in Sikkim and Bhutan.
🔶 19 April 1960: A meeting in New Delhi between Zhou Enlai and Nehru to address the boundary question ends in
deadlock.
🔶 February 1961: China refuses to discuss the Sino-Bhutanese and Sino-Sikkimese boundary disputes and further occupies 12,000 square miles in the western sector of the Sino- Indian border15-18 November
🔶1962: A massive Chinese attack on the eastern front, Tawang, Walong in the western sector over run, Rezang La and the Chushul airport shelled. Chinese troops capture Bomdila in the NEFA region
🔶 21 November 1962: China declares a unilateral ceasefire along the entire border and announces withdrawal of its troops to position 20km behind the LAC.
🔶8 December 1962: China sends a note signed by Zhou Enlai to India reiterating the three-point ceasefire formula.
🛡️ Both parties would respect the Line of Actual Control,
🛡️ the armed forces would withdraw 20km from this line and;
🛡️ talks between the prime-ministers of both countries to seek a friendly settlement.
🔶India accepts and later on 10 December endorses Colombo proposals.
🔶2 March 1963: China and Pakistan sign a boundary settlement in Beijing between Kashmir and Xinjiang where Pakistan ceded 5080 sq. km of Pakistan occupied Kashmir territory.
🔶27 August 1965: China accuses India of crossing the Sikkim-China boundary.
🔶 30 November 1965: Chinese troops intrude into north Sikkim and NEFA once again.
🔶 1986: Differences surface over the precise limits of the McMahon Line in the Sumdorung Chu area of Arunachal Pradesh.
📝Boundary Question and Territorial Integrity
🔸Despite over 30 years of regular dialogues, Sino-Indian border issues remain complicated and difficult.
🔸China continues to be in illegal occupation of approximately 38,000 sq. kms. in the Indian state of Jammu and Kashmir. In addition, under the so-called Sino-Pakistan Boundary Agreement of 1963, Pakistan illegally ceded 5180 sq. kms. of Indian territory in PakistanChina honed its "salami tactics" in the Himalayas in the 1950s, when it grabbed the Aksai Chin plateau by surreptitiously building a strategic highway through that unguarded region. Aksai Chin, part of the original princely state of Jammu and Kashmir, provided China with the only passageway between its restive regions of Tibet and Xinjiang.
🔸In 1993, the signing of an Agreement on the Maintenance of Peace and Tranquility along the Line of Actual Control (LAC) on the India-China Border Areas.
🔸Despite over 30 years of regular dialogues, Sino-Indian border issues remain complicated and difficult.
🔸China continues to be in illegal occupation of approximately 38,000 sq. kms. in the Indian state of Jammu and Kashmir. In addition, under the so-called Sino-Pakistan Boundary Agreement of 1963, Pakistan illegally ceded 5180 sq. kms. of Indian territory in PakistanChina honed its "salami tactics" in the Himalayas in the 1950s, when it grabbed the Aksai Chin plateau by surreptitiously building a strategic highway through that unguarded region. Aksai Chin, part of the original princely state of Jammu and Kashmir, provided China with the only passageway between its restive regions of Tibet and Xinjiang.
🔸In 1993, the signing of an Agreement on the Maintenance of Peace and Tranquility along the Line of Actual Control (LAC) on the India-China Border Areas.
📝The Eastern Sector
🔸At the 1914 China-Tibet-Britain Simla Convention, Sir Henry McMahon, foreign secretary of British India, drew up the 890-km McMahon Line as the border between British India and Tibet.
🔸The line, drawn primarily on the highest watershed principle, marked out previously unclaimed/undefined borders between Britain and Tibet.
🔸The line put Tawang and other Tibetan areas in the British empire. The line was forgotten until the British government published the documents in the 1937 edition of Aitchison’s Collection of Treaties. Subsequently, China refused to accept the line.
🔸In the Arunachal sector, China treats the McMahon Line as the LAC. But it challenges India’s claim that it should follow the watershed. China lays its calim on Arunachal as “South Tibet” and is specifically keen on the Tawang area
🔸At the 1914 China-Tibet-Britain Simla Convention, Sir Henry McMahon, foreign secretary of British India, drew up the 890-km McMahon Line as the border between British India and Tibet.
🔸The line, drawn primarily on the highest watershed principle, marked out previously unclaimed/undefined borders between Britain and Tibet.
🔸The line put Tawang and other Tibetan areas in the British empire. The line was forgotten until the British government published the documents in the 1937 edition of Aitchison’s Collection of Treaties. Subsequently, China refused to accept the line.
🔸In the Arunachal sector, China treats the McMahon Line as the LAC. But it challenges India’s claim that it should follow the watershed. China lays its calim on Arunachal as “South Tibet” and is specifically keen on the Tawang area
📝India-China Border: Specific Sectors
📝Western Sector
🔸Aksai Chin is the biggest disputed territory is 38,000 sq km in size. It is under the occupation of China but claimed by India as part of the Ladakh district of Jammu and Kashmir
🔸Neither of the countries have sufficient documents to make strong historical claims in the area. However, more than the legal claims, the region has huge strategic significance for China to gain access to Tibet region.
🔸 Historically British always wanted to create outer Tibet as a buffer zone. Boundaries in the western sector were hardly demarcated.
🔸 In 1957, China built its Western Highway that connects Xinjiang with Tibet, cutting across Aksai Chin. Eventually occupied it after 1962.
📝Western Sector
🔸Aksai Chin is the biggest disputed territory is 38,000 sq km in size. It is under the occupation of China but claimed by India as part of the Ladakh district of Jammu and Kashmir
🔸Neither of the countries have sufficient documents to make strong historical claims in the area. However, more than the legal claims, the region has huge strategic significance for China to gain access to Tibet region.
🔸 Historically British always wanted to create outer Tibet as a buffer zone. Boundaries in the western sector were hardly demarcated.
🔸 In 1957, China built its Western Highway that connects Xinjiang with Tibet, cutting across Aksai Chin. Eventually occupied it after 1962.
📝The Eastern Sector
🔸At the 1914 China-Tibet-Britain Simla Convention, Sir Henry McMahon, foreign secretary of British India, drew up the 890-km McMahon Line as the border between British India and Tibet.
🔸The line, drawn primarily on the highest watershed principle, marked out previously unclaimed/undefined borders between Britain and Tibet.
🔸The line put Tawang and other Tibetan areas in the British empire. The line was forgotten until the British government published the documents in the 1937 edition of Aitchison’s Collection of Treaties. Subsequently, China refused to accept the line.
🔸In the Arunachal sector, China treats the McMahon Line as the LAC. But it challenges India’s claim that it should follow the watershed. China lays its calim on Arunachal as “South Tibet” and is specifically keen on the Tawang area
🔸At the 1914 China-Tibet-Britain Simla Convention, Sir Henry McMahon, foreign secretary of British India, drew up the 890-km McMahon Line as the border between British India and Tibet.
🔸The line, drawn primarily on the highest watershed principle, marked out previously unclaimed/undefined borders between Britain and Tibet.
🔸The line put Tawang and other Tibetan areas in the British empire. The line was forgotten until the British government published the documents in the 1937 edition of Aitchison’s Collection of Treaties. Subsequently, China refused to accept the line.
🔸In the Arunachal sector, China treats the McMahon Line as the LAC. But it challenges India’s claim that it should follow the watershed. China lays its calim on Arunachal as “South Tibet” and is specifically keen on the Tawang area
📝The Middle Sector
🔸Disagreement between in certain areas such as the Barahoti plains in Uttarakhand
🔸 Sikkim sector is considered to be settled by China. For a long time, China did not accept Sikkim’s accession to be a legitimate territory of India. It was only after the joint statement of 2005, China formally accepted Sikkim as a state of India.
🔸The basic problem is lack of any formal treaty defining the boundaries & varying interpretation of Indo-China border. Both the countries went for a full fledged war in 1962 over the issue.
🔸Disagreement between in certain areas such as the Barahoti plains in Uttarakhand
🔸 Sikkim sector is considered to be settled by China. For a long time, China did not accept Sikkim’s accession to be a legitimate territory of India. It was only after the joint statement of 2005, China formally accepted Sikkim as a state of India.
🔸The basic problem is lack of any formal treaty defining the boundaries & varying interpretation of Indo-China border. Both the countries went for a full fledged war in 1962 over the issue.
📝Current Negotiation Framework
🔶 In 2003 during PM Vajpayee’s visit to China the 1st comprehensive document for development of bilateral ties was signed at the highest level. During this visit both sides agreed to establish a special representative mechanism for settling the boundary dispute issue.
🔶For resolving the border dispute the talks are supposed to proceed through a three staged process-
🔸 Stage 1- agreement on the broad principles and political parameters that will be followed for resolving the border dispute.
🔸 Stage 2- negotiating the broad framework for resolving disputes in all sectors
🔸Stage 3- delineating the border in maps and on ground
🔸In 2005, an agreement was reached on the “political parameters & guiding principles” (stage 1 of negotiations was completed) that should be followed to resolve the boundary dispute.
🔶 In 2003 during PM Vajpayee’s visit to China the 1st comprehensive document for development of bilateral ties was signed at the highest level. During this visit both sides agreed to establish a special representative mechanism for settling the boundary dispute issue.
🔶For resolving the border dispute the talks are supposed to proceed through a three staged process-
🔸 Stage 1- agreement on the broad principles and political parameters that will be followed for resolving the border dispute.
🔸 Stage 2- negotiating the broad framework for resolving disputes in all sectors
🔸Stage 3- delineating the border in maps and on ground
🔸In 2005, an agreement was reached on the “political parameters & guiding principles” (stage 1 of negotiations was completed) that should be followed to resolve the boundary dispute.
The International Criminal Police Organization (INTERPOL) is an intergovernmental organization that helps coordinate the police force of 194 member countries.
Each of the member countries hosts an INTERPOL National Central Bureau (NCB).
This connects their national law enforcement with other countries and with the General Secretariat.
The Central Bureau of Investigation (CBI) is designated as the National Central Bureau of India.
The General Secretariat provides a range of expertise and services to the member countries.
It is headquartered in Lyon, France.
Each of the member countries hosts an INTERPOL National Central Bureau (NCB).
This connects their national law enforcement with other countries and with the General Secretariat.
The Central Bureau of Investigation (CBI) is designated as the National Central Bureau of India.
The General Secretariat provides a range of expertise and services to the member countries.
It is headquartered in Lyon, France.
📝Geo-Strategic Competition between India and China
🔸The relation between India and China are shaped and influenced by perceived and real competition that can turn into conflict and needs to be managed.
🔸The rise of China and India coincide, historically rise of powers has resulted in conflict.South Asia, South-East Asia, Indo-Pacific and Africa are certain regions wher this pattern can be seen.
🔸Recent decades have seen the emergence of ideas, such as the String of Pearls, a term coined by US based academics, which refers to the network of Chinese military and commercial facilities and relationships along its sea lines of communication. The sea linesrun through several major maritime choke points such as the Strait of Mandeb (connects the Red Sea to the Gulf of Aden), the Strait of Malacca ( stretch of water between the peninsular Malaysia and the Indonesian island of Sumatra).
🔸The relation between India and China are shaped and influenced by perceived and real competition that can turn into conflict and needs to be managed.
🔸The rise of China and India coincide, historically rise of powers has resulted in conflict.South Asia, South-East Asia, Indo-Pacific and Africa are certain regions wher this pattern can be seen.
🔸Recent decades have seen the emergence of ideas, such as the String of Pearls, a term coined by US based academics, which refers to the network of Chinese military and commercial facilities and relationships along its sea lines of communication. The sea linesrun through several major maritime choke points such as the Strait of Mandeb (connects the Red Sea to the Gulf of Aden), the Strait of Malacca ( stretch of water between the peninsular Malaysia and the Indonesian island of Sumatra).
📝 India’s Response Mechanism Against China
🔸 Malabar Exercise Since 1992: Multi lateral Naval exercise including Japan and the USA. Past non-permanent participants are Australia and Singapore.
🔸India-Japan-Australia trilateral
🔸India-Japan-Australia-US Quadrilateral, Quad Met at the Sidelines of the ASEAN summit at Manila in November 2017. It is perceived as a coming-together of likeminded Asia-Pacific democracies to balance China.
🔸 Metal Chain and Iron curtain: Naval analyst Zhang Ming recently proclaimed that the Islands of India’s Andaman and Nicobar Archipelago could be used as a ‘metal chain’ to block Chinese access to the Straits of Malacca. China has gone further to claim that India is building an ‘Iron Curtain’ in the Indian Ocean, which is debatable.
🔸String of flowers: since 2015, agreements have been signed by India to develop infrastructure on Agalega islands in Mauritius and Assumption Island of Seychelles.
🔸 Malabar Exercise Since 1992: Multi lateral Naval exercise including Japan and the USA. Past non-permanent participants are Australia and Singapore.
🔸India-Japan-Australia trilateral
🔸India-Japan-Australia-US Quadrilateral, Quad Met at the Sidelines of the ASEAN summit at Manila in November 2017. It is perceived as a coming-together of likeminded Asia-Pacific democracies to balance China.
🔸 Metal Chain and Iron curtain: Naval analyst Zhang Ming recently proclaimed that the Islands of India’s Andaman and Nicobar Archipelago could be used as a ‘metal chain’ to block Chinese access to the Straits of Malacca. China has gone further to claim that India is building an ‘Iron Curtain’ in the Indian Ocean, which is debatable.
🔸String of flowers: since 2015, agreements have been signed by India to develop infrastructure on Agalega islands in Mauritius and Assumption Island of Seychelles.
The India-Nepal Treaty of Peace and Friendship of 1950 forms the bedrock of the special relations that exist between India and Nepal.
Treaty of Peace and Friendship of 1950:
The treaty talks about reciprocal treatment of Indian and Nepali citizens in the two countries, in residence, property, business and movement.
It also establishes national treatment for both Indian and Nepalese businesses (ie once imported, foreign goods would be treated no differently than domestic goods).
It also gives Nepal access to weaponry from India.
Treaty of Peace and Friendship of 1950:
The treaty talks about reciprocal treatment of Indian and Nepali citizens in the two countries, in residence, property, business and movement.
It also establishes national treatment for both Indian and Nepalese businesses (ie once imported, foreign goods would be treated no differently than domestic goods).
It also gives Nepal access to weaponry from India.
📝 The BCIM Corridor
🔸One of the key policy initiatives among national governments in Asia in recent years is directed towards developing sub-regional, regional and trans-regional corridors with the aim to further connect and integrate their economies.
🔸One such corridor is the proposed Bangladesh, China, India and Myanmar-Economic Corridor (BCIM-EC) involving four nations and has generated much interests as well as concerns.
🔸 Conceived as a sub-regional economic cooperation, BCIM initiative was launched in 1999 in Kunming, the capital of Chinese Yunnan province.
🔸Two prominent objectives had driven the BCIM- one is economic integration of the sub-region that would also enable integration of Asia and the other is development of the border regions. The BCIM priority agenda has evolved over time. From the 3-T’s of Trade,Transport, and Tourism, the BCIM priority agenda has moved to TTE (Trade, Transport, and Energy).
🔸One of the key policy initiatives among national governments in Asia in recent years is directed towards developing sub-regional, regional and trans-regional corridors with the aim to further connect and integrate their economies.
🔸One such corridor is the proposed Bangladesh, China, India and Myanmar-Economic Corridor (BCIM-EC) involving four nations and has generated much interests as well as concerns.
🔸 Conceived as a sub-regional economic cooperation, BCIM initiative was launched in 1999 in Kunming, the capital of Chinese Yunnan province.
🔸Two prominent objectives had driven the BCIM- one is economic integration of the sub-region that would also enable integration of Asia and the other is development of the border regions. The BCIM priority agenda has evolved over time. From the 3-T’s of Trade,Transport, and Tourism, the BCIM priority agenda has moved to TTE (Trade, Transport, and Energy).
📝 ABOUT NATO
(North Atlantic Treaty Organization/ North Atlantic Alliance)
*Founded - 4 April 1949
* Headquarters - Brussels, Belgium
* NATO is an intergovernmental military alliance between 28 European countries and 2 North American countries.
* NATO has no parliaments, no laws, no enforcement, and no power to punish individual citizens.
* The most recent member state to be added to NATO - North Macedonia 🇲🇰 (27 March 2020)
* NATO's purpose is to guarantee the freedom and security of its members through political and military means.
MEMBERS 30 COUNTRIES
United States🇺🇸
United Kingdom🇬🇧
Spain🇪🇸,Turkey🇹🇷,Albania🇦🇱
Belgium🇧🇪,Bulgaria🇧🇬
Canada🇨🇦,Croatia🇭🇷
Czech Republic🇨🇿,Denmark🇩🇰,Estonia🇪🇪,France🇫🇷
Germany🇩🇪,Greece,Hungary🇭🇺, Iceland🇮🇸,Italy🇮🇹,Latvia🇱🇻, Lithuania🇱🇹,Luxembour🇱🇺,Montenegro,Netherlands🇳🇱,North Macedonia,Norway🇳🇴,Poland🇵🇱,Portugal, Romania, Slovakia🇸🇰,Slovenia🇸🇮
(North Atlantic Treaty Organization/ North Atlantic Alliance)
*Founded - 4 April 1949
* Headquarters - Brussels, Belgium
* NATO is an intergovernmental military alliance between 28 European countries and 2 North American countries.
* NATO has no parliaments, no laws, no enforcement, and no power to punish individual citizens.
* The most recent member state to be added to NATO - North Macedonia 🇲🇰 (27 March 2020)
* NATO's purpose is to guarantee the freedom and security of its members through political and military means.
MEMBERS 30 COUNTRIES
United States🇺🇸
United Kingdom🇬🇧
Spain🇪🇸,Turkey🇹🇷,Albania🇦🇱
Belgium🇧🇪,Bulgaria🇧🇬
Canada🇨🇦,Croatia🇭🇷
Czech Republic🇨🇿,Denmark🇩🇰,Estonia🇪🇪,France🇫🇷
Germany🇩🇪,Greece,Hungary🇭🇺, Iceland🇮🇸,Italy🇮🇹,Latvia🇱🇻, Lithuania🇱🇹,Luxembour🇱🇺,Montenegro,Netherlands🇳🇱,North Macedonia,Norway🇳🇴,Poland🇵🇱,Portugal, Romania, Slovakia🇸🇰,Slovenia🇸🇮
📝 OBOR/BRI
One Belt One Road
🔸6 September 2013, Astana, Xi Jinping’s Speech-Land based silk road economic belt
🔸 In October 2013, his soeech at the Indonesian parliament spelled out the idea of Maritime silkroute.
🔸These two ideas combined to form the ambitious One Belt One Road (OBOR) also know as the Belt and Road Initiative (BRI)
🔸 Considered as the Chinese President Xi Jinping’s ambitious project, the One Belt One Road initiative focuses on:
🔸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.
🔸 It will impact 4.4 billion people.
🔸China is said to be spending $1 trillion on it.
🔸 It is not one project but six major routes which will include several railways line, roads, ports and other infrastructure.
One Belt One Road
🔸6 September 2013, Astana, Xi Jinping’s Speech-Land based silk road economic belt
🔸 In October 2013, his soeech at the Indonesian parliament spelled out the idea of Maritime silkroute.
🔸These two ideas combined to form the ambitious One Belt One Road (OBOR) also know as the Belt and Road Initiative (BRI)
🔸 Considered as the Chinese President Xi Jinping’s ambitious project, the One Belt One Road initiative focuses on:
🔸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.
🔸 It will impact 4.4 billion people.
🔸China is said to be spending $1 trillion on it.
🔸 It is not one project but six major routes which will include several railways line, roads, ports and other infrastructure.
📝Early Assessment of OBOR/BRI
🔸China’s strategy: China's strategy to grab land and assets in smaller, less-developed countries is simple: it gives them loans on high rates for infrastructural projects, gets equity into projects, and when the country is unable to repay the loan, it gets ownership of the project. Thus, it is also seen as a unilateral and exploitative project that involves strategic footholds in important locations around the world .
🔸 China’s image: Many expect this scenario to unfold in dozens of small countries in Asia and Africa if OBOR project becomes a reality. Touted as a global partnership by China, many including the United States, believe that OBOR is actually an exploitative, colonial stratagem to gain vital vital assets in small countries.
🔸The investment: the investment estimates for project of such a magnitude are touted to be in excess of US$ 5 trillion, whereas current Chinese commitment stands at estimated US$ 1 trillion.
🔸China’s strategy: China's strategy to grab land and assets in smaller, less-developed countries is simple: it gives them loans on high rates for infrastructural projects, gets equity into projects, and when the country is unable to repay the loan, it gets ownership of the project. Thus, it is also seen as a unilateral and exploitative project that involves strategic footholds in important locations around the world .
🔸 China’s image: Many expect this scenario to unfold in dozens of small countries in Asia and Africa if OBOR project becomes a reality. Touted as a global partnership by China, many including the United States, believe that OBOR is actually an exploitative, colonial stratagem to gain vital vital assets in small countries.
🔸The investment: the investment estimates for project of such a magnitude are touted to be in excess of US$ 5 trillion, whereas current Chinese commitment stands at estimated US$ 1 trillion.
📝 India and the OBOR
🔸India is the only South-Asian country, apart from Bhutan, not to be involved in the Asian superpower’s ambitious project.
🔸The main reason behind India’s opposition towards the policy is the China-Pakistan Economic Corridor (CPEC), which is a part of OBOR.
🔸 Accordin to the MEA India is all for promoting connectivity, however the problem with the OBOR, is that since the so-called CPEC forms a part of OBOR, and it passes through Indian territory.
🔸Citing sovereignty issues, India has raised objections over CPEC projects in Pakistan-occupied Kashmir (PoK).Recognizing the significance of connectivity and infrastructure India is putting forward alternatives such as the INSTC, Cahabahar corridor and the Asia-Africa growth corridor .
🔸India is the only South-Asian country, apart from Bhutan, not to be involved in the Asian superpower’s ambitious project.
🔸The main reason behind India’s opposition towards the policy is the China-Pakistan Economic Corridor (CPEC), which is a part of OBOR.
🔸 Accordin to the MEA India is all for promoting connectivity, however the problem with the OBOR, is that since the so-called CPEC forms a part of OBOR, and it passes through Indian territory.
🔸Citing sovereignty issues, India has raised objections over CPEC projects in Pakistan-occupied Kashmir (PoK).Recognizing the significance of connectivity and infrastructure India is putting forward alternatives such as the INSTC, Cahabahar corridor and the Asia-Africa growth corridor .
📝 The Russia Factor in OBOR
🔸Russia and China had frosty relations for much of the Soviet era (Sino Soviet rift of the 1960s). The two countries faced off in 1969 border skirmishes. This led China to open up to the USA in 1971.
🔸However, in the recent years there has been a greater convergence between the two countries on the issues of western interventionism, SCO, Syria, Crimea and South China
Sea. In 2014 the two sides inked a 30-year, $400bn (£237bn) deal for Gazprom to deliver Russian gas to China in a deal that underscores Russia's shift towards Asia amid strained relations with the west.
🔸Thus, there seems to be a short term convergence, however this sits on deep seated geographical realities that can change the scenario.
🔸The RIC forum is a key to this triangular interaction for India.
🔸Russia and China had frosty relations for much of the Soviet era (Sino Soviet rift of the 1960s). The two countries faced off in 1969 border skirmishes. This led China to open up to the USA in 1971.
🔸However, in the recent years there has been a greater convergence between the two countries on the issues of western interventionism, SCO, Syria, Crimea and South China
Sea. In 2014 the two sides inked a 30-year, $400bn (£237bn) deal for Gazprom to deliver Russian gas to China in a deal that underscores Russia's shift towards Asia amid strained relations with the west.
🔸Thus, there seems to be a short term convergence, however this sits on deep seated geographical realities that can change the scenario.
🔸The RIC forum is a key to this triangular interaction for India.