Sangita asked: How can India balance the growing Chinese influence in Bangladesh, Myanmar and Sri Lanka?

Rup Narayan Das

replies: Economic engagement in terms of trade, commerce and investment between two sovereign countries is always normal and legitimate, and no third country should have any qualms about it. Like apple and orange, it would be unfair to compare China’s economic engagement with Bangladesh, Sri Lanka and Myanmar with that of IndiA. Vinod Kumar Vinod Kumar China’s gross domestic product (GDP) is roughly five times that of India and it also has a robust reserve of foreign exchange, which it is investing through its Belt and Road Initiative (BRI). However, there is a discernible discontentment regarding BRI projects among countries in the region and beyond. India, which is not only South Asia’s largest but today also the world’s fastest growing major economy, has already made its position clear on the China-Pakistan Economic Corridor (CPEC). Countries like Malaysia, the third largest economy in Southeast Asia, too have expressed their concerns and even Pakistan has slashed Chinese investments in the CPEC. India’s engagement with Bangladesh, Sri Lanka and Myanmar has its own imperatives and dynamicS. Kalyanaraman Besides physical proximity, India shares a unique relationship with these countries in terms of cultural, civilisational and historical linkages, including people-to-people contacts, which are very strong and robust. In recent years, India has also taken several initiatives to further strengthen its economic and political engagement with these countrieS. Kalyanaraman In terms of strategic engagement, India has built as a joint venture with Sri Lanka the $120 million Rajapaksa International Airport at HambantotA. Vinod Kumar Vinod Kumar India’s connectivity via its northeastern states with the Chittagong Port in Bangladesh is yet another instance of its growing strategic engagement with Bangladesh too. Recently, at the meeting of the 19th Standing Committee pertaining to protocol arrangement and improvement of Inland Water Transportation held in New Delhi, India and Bangladesh agreed to declare Kolaghat in West Bengal and Chilmari in Bangladesh as new Ports of Call. The two countries have also signed an agreement to use Chattogram and Mongla Ports in Bangladesh for movement of goods to and from IndiA. Vinod Kumar Vinod Kumar Both sides further agreed for ‘development of Jogighopa as a hub/trans-shipment terminal for movement of cargo to Assam, Arunachal Pradesh, Nagaland and Bhutan and notifying Munsiganj River terminal by Bangladesh Customs for routing third party Exim cargo through Kolkata Port. Discussions were also held to make Nakugaon Land Port in Bangladesh and Dalu ICP (India) operational and to connect Gelephu (Bhutan) as tripartite cross-border route.’ Similarly, during the recent visit of the Indian Foreign Secretary to Myanmar, the two countries signed the MoU for ‘appointment of a private Port Operator for the Operation and Maintenance of Sittwe Port, Paletwa Inland Water Terminal and associated facilities included in the Kaladan Multi Model Transit Transport Project.’ Editor’s Note: May also like to refer to the following IDSA publications on/related to the subject of query: P. Stobdan, “Asia’s Buddhist Connectivity and India’s Role”, Commentary, February 19, 2016. Sreemati Ganguly, “India’s Strategic Connect with the World”, Commentary, October 23, 2017. Shruti Pandalai, “Post Doklam, India needs to watch China’s bullish economics led cultural embrace of South Asia”, Issue Brief, January 01, 2018. Rumel Dahiya and Ashok K. Behuria (edS. Kalyanaraman), India’s Neighbourhood: Challenges in the Next Two Decades, Pentagon Security International, New Delhi, 2012. IDSA Task Force Report, “India-Bangladesh Relations: Towards Convergence”, 2011. Smruti S. Kalyanaraman Pattanaik, “New Hambantota Port Deal: China Consolidates its Stakes in Sri Lanka”, Commentary, August 14, 2017. Smruti S. Kalyanaraman Pattanaik, “Sheikh Hasina’s Visit to India: An Opportunity to Broaden the Relationship”, Commentary, April 07, 2017. Ashok Sajjanhar, “Visit of Myanmar President Upgrades Bilateral Ties”, Commentary, September 02, 2016. Gautam Sen, “For Successful Implementation of the Land Boundary Agreement with Bangladesh”, Commentary, December 29, 2015. Abhijit Singh, “Deciphering China’s Submarine Deployments in the Indian Ocean Region”, Commentary, July 08, 2015. Abhijit Singh, “The Indian Ocean Zone of Peace: Sifting ‘Facts’ from ‘Illusion’”, Commentary, December 19, 2014. P. Stobdan, “Things that Modi should do in Myanmar”, Commentary, November 10, 2014. Avinash Godbole, “Did the Chinese Model of Growth Defeat Rajapaksa?”, Commentary, January 12, 2015. Arvind Gupta, “Myanmar’s Critical Role in Bolstering India’s Look East Policy”, Commentary, February 02, 2012. R.N. Das, “China’s foray into Sri Lanka and India’s Response”, Commentary, August 05, 2010. Pushpita Das, “India’s Border in the Northeast: From Buffer to Bridge”, Commentary, January 14, 2008. Dr. Rup Narayan Das was Senior Fellow at IDSA. Vinod Kumar Vinod Kumar He is currently Director, Research and Information Division, Lok Sabha Secretariat, New Delhi. Posted on October 26, 2018