Engage others within one belt one road

Engage others within one belt one road

China’s One Belt, One Road (Obor) initiative, an ambitious infrastructure and connectivity project, has economic and security implications for India. The geopolitical implications of a project that would encompass almost 100 countries with 70% of the world’s population, 55% of its output and 24% of global trade are significant. India must join in, mobilise allies and ensure that the economic infrastructure built remains ‘open access’ and under the sovereign control of the countries in which it is built.
Beijing seeks global leadership and sees Obor as an instrumentality. At the same time, the initiative can build vital infrastructure, boost growth and develop market access. India needs to act in a strategic manner, as it did joining the Asian Infrastructure Investment Bank and the New Development Bank. Only by joining Obor can New Delhi work, along with like-minded other members, to thwart its use for Chinese domination.
Obor envisages partners, in finance and project implementation. Partners can restrain as well as build. With the US withdrawing from the Trans Pacific Partnership and the Donald Trump administration’s as yet unclear relationship with Asia, the best option for India would be to work with other countries to ensure that the Obor does not become a vehicle for Chinese hegemony while taking advantage of economic benefits that the initiative promises. This does not preclude, of course, India’s independent engagement with the countries concerned.
Keeping away from the initiative will not address geopolitical concerns. Instead, New Delhi should develop the capacity for principled clarity on the desired nature of assets created with foreign investment and diplomatic engagement to realise that clarity on the ground.