amoy
Senior Member
- Joined
- Jan 17, 2010
- Messages
- 5,982
- Likes
- 1,849
China in SAARC: Time to weigh the pros and cons - Opinion & Viewpoint - News | News Syndication | Content Syndication
Excerpts:
The South Asian Association of Regional Cooperation (SAARC) is not a shining model of regional cooperation. It's seen as a talking shop.
Barring India, all other members, especially Pakistan, Nepal and Sri Lanka want China in - as a countervailing force to India.
Also - China's entry would benefit SAARC
Excerpts:
The South Asian Association of Regional Cooperation (SAARC) is not a shining model of regional cooperation. It's seen as a talking shop.
Barring India, all other members, especially Pakistan, Nepal and Sri Lanka want China in - as a countervailing force to India.
Also - China's entry would benefit SAARC
The "Maritime Silk Road" initiative goes live!The 17th summit meeting of the South Asian Association for Regional Cooperation (SAARC) recently concluded in Addu Atoll of the Maldives, which appears to be a turning point in its history. Coming to the 17th Summit, the SAARC has traversed a long and tumultuous journey and has finally proved its worth. Some new initiatives now are afoot to turn the SAARC from a regional gossiping club of South Asian leaders into a vibrant and resourceful regional body.
Much was discussed among the leaders of the South Asia and observer countries especially on the sidelines of the formal meetings. Talks were held and ideas were exchanged on various issues including enlargement of the SAARC. Currently, there are eight members and nine observers. The eight members include Nepal, India, Bhutan, Bangladesh, Pakistan, Sri Lanka, Maldives and Afghanistan. The observer countries are China, Mauritius, Japan, South Korea, Australia, United States of America, Iran, Myanmar and European Union. Turkey is another country that may be interested to join the SAARC as the observer and the SAARC members appear to be positive for Turkey's entry into the SAARC as observer. With Turkey, the number of observer countries in the eight-member SAARC would be ten. There are other countries and groups that may be interested to join SAARC as observers. Since European Union has the observer status, why should other regional groups like ASEAN, African Union, Arab League and the Union of South American Countries not be included as observers? If Iran, Myanmar and Mauritius are qualified for the observers, several central Asian countries that have close proximity as well as other relations with South Asia are equally qualified for the same. Similarly, Thailand, Malaysia, Indonesia, Vietnam, Russia may also be equally qualified for SAARC\'s observer status. It seems as though observers are included in an arbitrary manner without setting specific criteria. If this trend continues, SAARC, one day, may be overwhelmed by observers, Situation may arise when member states would not be able to take any decision whereas observers may dictate the members of the SAARC.
The issue concerning the expansion of the SAARC has come up more prominently. Originally SAARC was an association of seven countries. Afghanistan was included only recently. Iran and Myanmar have long ago shown willingness to join the SAARC as full-fledged members and have already registered their written request. Similar case is with China, which is currently an observer like Japan, South Korea and the United States. China is the country which shares border with five members of the SAARC. China is, thus, very much South Asian as well as East Asian country and it fully deserves to be the member of the SAARC.
Recognizing this reality, there are some moves already afoot to include China as a member of the SAARC instead of observer status. Majority of the SAARC members are positive of China\'s entry into the SAARC. Pakistan has already floated this idea, whereas Sri Lanka, Maldives, Afghanistan and Bangladesh appear to be positive. China, too, is seeking active role in the SAARC. At the moment, China has sought the role of dialogue partner if the full-fledged membership is not immediately possible. The proposal to include China as a dialogue partner has been called as \'eight-plus one\' structure- eight full-fledged members with one dialogue partner. If granted the status of dialogue partner, China would be able to participate in all discussion and dialogue and also put forth its views on issues of discussion. However, it may not have voting power.
But China deserves more than the dialogue partner. But Beijing may be contended with this status for the time being, which could ultimately be transformed into a full-fledged member of the SAARC. China is development partner of almost all South Asian countries. China has not only provided generous assistance to several South Asian countries but also has been involved in several construction and development projects. China is keen to further expand the areas of cooperation in South Asia in the years to come. This is China\'s selfless motive of contributing to the development in its neighborhood. Beijing is well aware that prosperity and stability of China may not be meaningful if its neighborhood is unstable, poor and backward. The willingness and desire to contribute meaningful contribution to the development of neighborhood and getting involved in the development works in different countries in South Asia was clearly reflected in the speech delivered by the head of the Chinese delegation to the 17th SAARC Summit.
China\'s South Asia policy is guided by its own security, stability and development-which is called as the \'peripheral policy\'. China feels that its prosperity and stability are maintained only when its neighbors are stable and prosperous. Beijing is of the view that when there is fire in the neighborhood, it is likely to catch your own house. Guided by this notion, China wants more stability, peace and prosperity in the neighborhood.
China is currently world\'s second largest economy and is poised to become the largest one. The level of economic development of its people is also going up fast. Beijing has aimed at completely eradicating poverty in a few years. Similarly, China\'s investment in the world is also growing in leaps and bound, which has bolstered China\'s clout and influence in the international arena. China has invested much in other parts of the country especially in Africa. South Asia is China\'s backyard and Beijing is currently focusing its investment and cooperation in South Asia so that South Asia can benefit from Chain\'s experience of economic miracle. SAARC could be a good forum for enlarging economic cooperation between South Asia and China. For this, China is seeking appropriate and dignified role within SAARC forum.
However, Chain\'s move to be part of the SAARC is likely to be resisted by India. Although China does not have any ill will against any county, India always feels threatened by China\'s presence in the region. China has time and again made its position clear that its economic growth and modernization are not aimed at any other country but solely meant for its peaceful development. Thus, there should be no apprehension and fear from China\'s growth and its presence anywhere in the world.
Against this background, South Asia should take advantage from China\'s desire to join SAARC. There has been widespread feelings in the region that SAARC has not been able to move faster and accomplish its goal of meaningful regional cooperation for which it was created 26 years ago. This is mainly attributed to the lack of resources as most SAARC countries are poor. Moreover, the role of India, which is the biggest and most powerful member of the SAARC, may be uneasy from the effectiveness of the SAARC. India\'s policy on SAARC is to keep the region alive but weak and fragile.
With China\'s entry as a full-fledged member, the SAARC would be world\'s largest regional body with more resources and capability in tackling the region\'s problems and contributing to the development of this area. China\'s entry into SAARC would add one more dimension. So far, SAARC has been India centric and New Delhi has used its influence, power and clout to reduce SAARC activities to meetings and discussions. But China is a bigger and more powerful in terms of size, population, economic and military might which may serve as a perfect countervailing force in the SAARC so that one country\'s hegemony would come to an end and SAARC would be more meaningful, functioning and vibrant.
China\'s entry into the SAARC as a full-fledged member is necessary not for China\'s interest but for the benefit of South Asian countries mainly smaller and weaker ones like Nepal, Bangladesh, Sri Lanka, Maldives and Afghanistan. There are some other countries which have openly backed China\'s entry into SAARC. Pakistan has wholeheartedly supported this move. The Maldives and Sri Lanka are also positive. There has been widespread support in the popular level in South Asia for brining China into SAARC forum as a member. Bangladesh, too, may not oppose the proposal despite Prime Minister\'s Seikh Hasina\'s pro-India tilt. Since Bhutan is India\'s tutelage, New Delhi may use Thimpu card in keeping Beijing away although India would not come up openly against China. The public opinion in Nepal is in China\'s favour because of Beijing\'s good neighborly attitude and friendly cooperation. Prime Minister Dr Baburam Bhattarai had publicly spoken the need for bringing China into SAARC and has vowed to create Nepal as a meaningful bridge between China and India. However, Prime Minister Bhattarai\'s silence over this matter in Maldives during the 17th SAARC summit is conspicuous. Since he is the second head of the government in South Asia to raise the issue of bringing China into SAARC, he should have raised this issue in Maldives.
