Exploiting the projects that China builds

Instead of handwringing on Beijing's growing geopolitical footprint, New Delhi should exploit both the asset and liability side of such projects.

Welcome to Nitin Pai’s cyberspace. You are in the structured section of my domain where I have my blog posts, newspaper columns, updates on my teaching and research, and other things you had always been warned about.

Question by Raghav Aggarwal of BW Businessworld:

“What do you think will be the implications, for India, of the latest rail link opened by China which provides it access to the Indian Ocean via Myanmar? With the kind of government that is in Myanmar, in case of any security breach, will India have the power to make Myanmar take tough steps?”

My reply:

Read Raghav Aggarwal’s report

“Whatever assets China is building in other countries are also liabilities. To the extent that such projects create a Chinese hegemony over Myanmar’s society, it will trigger a Bamar nationalist backlash. Furthermore, any future Myanmarese government can well use the infrastructure as a bargaining chip with Beijing. Finally, roads and railway lines are bidirectional. Instead of handwringing on Beijing’s growing geopolitical footprint, New Delhi should exploit both the asset and liability side of such projects.”

In earlier columns:

It’s not that India must engage Myanmar to prevent that country from coming under Chinese dominance. It’s that Myanmar needs India to prevent itself from being dominated by China. It is unnecessary to indulge the military-majoritarian regime to the extent India has been doing. If Myanmar falls to China, let it. Sooner or later the rulers of the country will have to call New Delhi. (On Myanmar policy, 2017)

To read about more things like this, you can check out my published raw notes and my massive archives.

New Delhi need not be overly concerned about Beijing’s shadow in its dealings with Myanmar. Regardless of Suu Kyi’s politics, it is in India’s strategic interests to promote a developmental model in the region that is different from China’s. A stable, democratic, pluralistic and federal Myanmar is necessary for India to unlock the immense potential of “Act East.” (Dealing with another coup in Myanmar, 2021)

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