THE BELT AND ROAD INITIATIVE AND THE POLITICS OF CONNECTIVITY: Sino-Indian Rivalry in the 21st Century, Edited by Bhumitra Chakma and Xiudian Dai, XV+ 276 pp., Palgrave Macmillan: Singapore, 2022, eBook, DOI: https://doi.org/10.1007/978-981-19-2864-2
China attempts to bridge the gap with the United States of America (USA), in terms of economics, military and technology. Along with that, India is also rising as a regional power in the South Asian region. This is leading to a shift of in the global balance of power, where China and India rivalry has intensified in post-2013 era due to the launch of the Belt and Road Initiative (BRI) by China. The BRI could be described as massive infrastructure projects prompted to expand geo-political influence by China, which has forced India to react to the growing influence of China on South Asia and the Indian Ocean. The book under review explains the concept of BRI, in the context of Sino-Indian rivalry and its impact on regional and global politics in the 21st century.
The introduction rightly prepares the ground claiming that both China and India are two great entities aspiring to become nations with interest in leadership in the same neighborhood caused a steady decline heightened by border conflicts in 1959 and a brief war in 1962. Set in such a hostile backdrop, when China officially announced Action on Jointly Building Silk Road Economic Belt Economic Belt and 21st century Maritime Silk Road in 2015, it sparked a whole new dimension of rivalry between the two powerful Asian nations.
The second chapter titled, Connectivity, Statecraft, and Asian Acts of Rebalancing by Aravind Yelery explains the concept of connectivity, which is vital for cooperation and sustainability. Infrastructural development, under the BRI, goes beyond economic exchange and plays a role at ensuring stability and sustainability. A key example of how connectivity can reshape global economic balance is the 2013 BRI, as it focuses on creating corridors for global trade. But BRI has been criticized heavily as its implementation has raised concerns regarding debt dependency. To counter China’s growing geopolitical influence, India has been pursuing regional connectivity projects.
BRI does not only focus on economic relations, and so the third chapter titled, The BRI and China’s Soft Power Strategy: Implications of the Digital Silk Road for South Asia by Xiudian Dai explains how the Digital Silk Road is an important element in China’s BRI, as it focuses on increasing investments, related to information and communication technologies (ICTs), to increase digital connectivity. This initiative reflects China’s ambition to confront the Western dominance in global communications order and increase its geopolitical influence. Pakistan, which is in South Asia, has received assistance from China through the development of digital infrastructure, such as, fiber optic networks and PEACE submarine cable and massive investment. Critics have debated on whether these investments on digital infrastructure part of China’s strategy are to assert political and economic control. China’s geopolitical ambitions that are being met through soft power strategy is raising concerns about the shift of regional power dynamics, especially South Asia.
The growing rivalry between China’s Belt and Road Initiative (BRI) and India’s regional infrastructural projects has been discussed in this chapter titled, Cross-Border Infrastructure Development in South Asia: Chinese and Indian Approaches, Rivalries, and Potential for Cooperation authored by Xianbai Ji and Pradumna B. Rana. This chapter highlights how India has historically been the force of connectivity in South Asia but is being challenged by rapid and large-scale infrastructural development under BRI through projects, such as China-Pakistan Economic Corridor (CPEC) and the Bangladesh-China-India-Myanmar Corridor (BCIM). While India has been attempting to curb the spread of the BRI through diplomatic influence, there are ways through which the two initiatives can cooperate.
The fifth chapter by Rajesh Basrur takes a dive into the historical rivalry between India and China, which has been increasing because of territorial disputes and military crisis, such as, Doklam standoff and the 2020 Ladakh confrontation. Due to concerns surrounding territorial integrity and economic dependency, India has rejected the CPEC under the BRI. Nevertheless, the two countries continue with their economic cooperation through platforms, such as, Asian Infrastructural Investment Bank (AIIB). The chapter also explains India’s strategies, such as, strengthening of military capabilities, diversification of economic partnership and reduced dependency of China. Thus, the chapter explains the complex topic of balancing a relationship between competition and cooperation.
Despite economic cooperation, the Sino-China rivalry continues with military tensions over disputed areas, such as China-Pakistan Economic Corridor (CPEC). The sixth chapter entitled, The Sino-Indian Rivalry in South Asia: The BRI and the New Cold Wars by Jabin T. Jacobs explains that India’s opposition to BRI is due concerns over regional stability and China’s expanding influence in South Asia. The chapter explains three “cold wars”, which are the Sino-India military tension, the economic competition between China and USA, and the use of China by the neighboring countries of India to counterbalance. The changing landscape of regional and global geopolitics is increasing mutual distrust.
Muzaffir Hussain’s chapter 7 focuses on China–Pakistan Economic Corridor (CPEC) and its implications for Sino-Indian rivalry. It explains how the CPEC is one of the infrastructural projects fueling tension between India, China, and Pakistan, as it providing economic benefits to Pakistan but China’s regional dominance is raising concerns for India. Other than that, the development of the Gwadar Port and China’s increasing presence in the Indian Ocean have increased India fears, and so India has assisted in the development for Chabahar Port. The chapter explains strategic balance in an environment of increasing regional power struggle.
The eighth chapter titled, The BRI and Sino-Indian Rivalry in Bangladesh by the volume’s chief editor Bhumitra Chakma explains how Bangladesh has become an arena for competition in the Sino-India rivalry. The analysis shows that India wants to maintain regional dominance, while China aims to increase its already growing presence for further achieving its economic and strategic goals. Bangladesh has been strategically balancing the two powers by accepting Chinese investments and maintaining strong relations with India. This diplomatic strategy of balancing the two powers is a reflection on Bangladesh’s pragmatism. This is perhaps the most interesting and amazing chapter of the book, as Chakma rightly notes both New Delhi and Beijing have offered economic assistance in the form of loan, investment to small south Asian states like Bangladesh and hence are seeking to consolidate interest and exert influence. In comparison to Beijing’s economic package of about 24 billion USD, India declared a 5 billion USD line of credit. It was the biggest line of credit announced by India to any country in a single installment. It was evident that New Delhi is sincerely trying to reduce China’s influence over Dhaka. It is clear from the chapter that Sino-Indian competition for influence over Bangladesh has been triggered by China’s BRI. Not only the growing market size along with economic potential but also the geographical location with its proximity to India’s Northeastern region which is connected to the main land area through the so-called “Chicken-neck” – the narrow strip of Siliguri Corridor makes Bangladesh a critically important geo-strategic neighbor of India. India simply cannot afford to witness China to limit its influence through a multi-faceted geo-economic mega project like BRI.
Chapter 9 is titled, The India-China Geo-Economic Contest for Influence in Nepal, Sri Lanka and Maldives, written by Smruti S. Pattanaik who explains the changing role of China in South Asian strategic landscape, especially following the occupation of Tibet. While India and China initially were on friendly ties, but eventually China strengthened ties with Pakistan and Nepal through forming military and economic relations. While both countries have used aids and loans to further geopolitical goals, India’s dominance is being challenged further by investments and infrastructural projects of China.
China’s increasing maritime presence in the Indian Ocean, is causing concerns in India as it could lead to a decrease of regional influence. Chapter 10 titled, India’s Bid to Counter China in the Indian Ocean by Abhijit Singh explains how China’s naval activities, such as, anti-piracy and military operations, has posed as a threat to India as it could lead to formation of strategic outposts around key sea lanes. Chinese investment in Hambantota port and Djibouti military base can be considered as a direct challenge to the security of India. As a result, India has increased its naval capacities through the formation of strategic ties with USA, Japan and Australia to gain its own interests in the Indian and Pacific Ocean.
Bhumitra Chakma’s concluding chapter explains how the increasing Sino-India rivalry is being fueled by China’s BRI. It touches on how BRI has increased geopolitical and economical competition in South Asia and Indian Ocean. While BRI focused on connectivity and cooperation, the initiative has increased political tensions, territorial issues, and strategic imbalance. The rivalry expands beyond bilateral and regional competition, rather it involves global players USA and Japan as they want to form alliance to counterbalance China’s increasing influence. The rivalry, prompted by geo-economic and infrastructural projects, will influence the Asian regional politics and global power dynamics.
Overall, the book’s ten chapters is divided into three parts attempting to “explore the dynamics of contemporary Sino-Indian rivalry and future trajectory with a focus on the politics of connectivity and infrastructure building” (p. 259). Even though each chapter includes notes and references at the end, the volume’s two editors could insert a bibliography after the concluding chapter to make it more convenient and user-friendly.
In short, the book offers an in-depth exploration of complex geopolitical issues surrounding the BRI, making it both a comprehensive guide for general readers and a valuable resource for students of Political Science and International Relations. Thus, the book will remain a key reference for enthusiasts of Sino-Indian relations for years to come.