OBOR News & Developments

[Hemu Vikram Aditya]

Bangladesh Source:

http://www.dhakatribune.com/opinion/op-ed/2017/06/05/one-belt-rule/
India must re-think the One Belt One Road initiative: dhakatribune

Connectivity without political bottlenecks /BIGSTOCK

India must re-think the One Belt One Road initiative
The One Belt One Road (OBOR) mega project, now renamed the Belt and Road Initiative (BRI), is arguably the greatest trade connectivity and infrastructure project in the history of mankind.

It aims to connect all of Eurasia and also Africa in a well-knit zone where trade, industry, and commerce will not be bogged down by infrastructural and political bottlenecks.

Much more than a Chinese project

The main force behind this initiative is the People’s Republic of China, but it is much more than a Chinese project — it is veritably the network on which future economic development of much of Eurasia will lie.

To isolate oneself from this network is to be at a huge competitive disadvantage. OBOR, in many ways, is the principal economic axis of Europe and Asia, on land and on the seas.

The recent meeting about the OBOR in China attracted huge number of heads of state from all corners of the world, from Russia to Chile to Sri Lanka.

If one looks at the map of Asia and colours the countries that have decided to join the One Belt One Road project, it will be clear that much of Asia will get coloured.

In that grand Eurasian economic union, one landmass will look very isolated. That is the Indian Union. Staying out of One Belt One Road is set to have grievous consequences for future economy of the Indian Union. More importantly, this staying out will sabotage the great geo-economic potential that eastern territories of the Indian Union have.

Grave consequences

West Bengal and the North-Eastern territories of the Indian Union will be huge economic beneficiaries in terms of revenue, infrastructure, and much more if the Indian Union joins OBOR. But Delhi decided to stay out of the recent meeting and was virtually isolated in the international stage.

Even the US joined the meeting as did Vietnam which has many border disputes with China. Vietnam did so because it is sane enough to prioritise its real world economic development in comparison to territorial claims which have no effect on the daily lives of its citizens in any practical, objective sense.

Delhi cited a part of the China Pakistan Economic Corridor (CPEC), an important axis of OBOR, as the reason it decided to boycott. It is true that a stretch of the CPEC actually passes through areas that have been held by China and Pakistan for a very long time but are claimed by the Indian Union.

In practical terms, for the last 70 years or so, Delhi has never had any practical jurisdiction over the area except the comic charade of having empty seats in the Jammu and Kashmir assembly that correspond to those areas that are not under Indian Union administration.

In terms of extending its administration to these areas, Delhi’s activities have been limited to doing anti-Pakistan PR that very few listen to (very few countries unequivocally share Delhi’s position on the Kashmir issue) and going after the random map which might have drawn the area according to ground realities and not according to Delhi’s fantasies.

Neither does Delhi have any practical roadmap to acquire these territories from Pakistan and China. Vietnam has maintained its territorial claims while it has joined One Belt One Road. The Indian Union could have done the same; it did not.

So to cite this completely impractical position as the reason to boycott One Belt One Road is completely self-defeating.

India defeats itself

But then the question arises, what is this “self” when I said self-defeating? It is an important question because the long and continued presence of all the Beijing-administered but Delhi-claimed territories never stopped the then Gujarat Chief Minister Narendra Modi from going to China to seek investments.

Neither has that stopped the outsourcing to China the manufacturing of the giant Ballabhbhai Patel figure, the so-called “Statue of Unity” (comically, “unity” here means the Indian Union’s territorial unity). Nor will that stop the $1 billion China Industrial Park in Gujarat.

The long and continued presence of all the Islamabad-administered but Delhi-claimed territories have not stopped Delhi from bestowing the “most favoured nation” (MFN) status to Pakistan.

When Delhi boycotted, hardly anyone cared. Except Bhutan. Every other nation in South Asia deserted Delhi and joined the OBOR — Bangladesh, Pakistan, Nepal, Sri Lanka

Why then, when the question of development of West Bengal and Indian Union’s north-eastern territories are involved that all these questions are raised?

If Delhi has the money to bankroll the infrastructure and connectivity development in these states, why doesn’t it? The truth is quite the opposite.

If anything, West Bengal is fiscally looted by Delhi and this has been the reality since 1947 with particular egregious things, like the Freight Equalisation policy, that were designed to destroy any economic and industrial advantage that the East, primarily West Bengal, but also Jharkhand and Odisha, had.

If Delhi takes such a hypocritical attitude vis-à-vis Chinese engagement, then it is unfortunate. Delhi can order that all trade with China will stop. But it won’t because it can’t.

No comparison

China’s manufacturing strength and market hold is so deep compared to the Indian Union that there is no comparison. It is only in Delhi’s sycophant media that something like Sino-Indian rivalry and comparison exist.

To the rest of the world, there is no comparison. Which is why when Delhi boycotted, hardly anyone cared. Except Bhutan. But wait, Delhi controls Bhutan’s foreign policy. Every other nation in South Asia deserted Delhi and joined the OBOR — Bangladesh, Pakistan, Nepal, Sri Lanka.

This also shows that the Indian Union is not only isolated internationally on this question but isolated even in its immediate neighbourhood.

This is a sad testament to the performance and judgment of Delhi’s policy wonks and diplomats but, most importantly, it shows how the high octane foreign connect of Prime Minister Narendra Modi is for domestic jingoistic consumption.

Delhi must do a re-think on OBOR. Coining other alphabet soups in the name of some African Economic Corridor or some US-Japan-sponsored Indian Ocean-centric mini project is no match to OBOR.

No one will be fooled by these, just like everyone understands that BIMSTEC, BCIM, or BBIN type of regional connectivity plans have only earned frequent flyer miles for policy-makers on junkets. They have not yielded much else.

Even Bhutan has refused to be part of BBIN’s crucial motor vehicle agreement. If the Indian Union has to prosper, its states must prosper.

Delhi is holding back the real world economic development of the Eastern and North Eastern states to satisfy some position on the sovereignty issues of territories where the Indian flag has never flown ever in history.

With a Gujarati at the helm in Delhi, one would have thought that the Indian Union would have worked out a good bargain. But that has not happened.

The Indian Union’s eastern states might have lost the biggest economic rejuvenation possibility in a generation while Gujarat’s own wooing of China goes on. These double standards are, by now, shamefully stark.

China is going after other nations natural resources and Pakistanis are dumbasses as well.See the diffrence between Bharatiyans and Pakis is that we had the guts to criticize Russia but Pakistanis are so deluded that even when Chinis are going to loot your country you people still have cold war mindset.

 

[Suryavanshi]

So Bangladesh is pushing for OBOR against our interests?

 

[Hemu Vikram Aditya]

Anyway time has come for Nepal to become 30th State of Bharat!

 

[Suryavanshi]

Anyway time has come for Nepal to become 30th State of Bharat!

I don't think it's ever gonna happen Bhutan maybe but Nepal is too full of pride.

 

[Hemu Vikram Aditya]

Nepal is too full of pride.

Populate it with the so called 'Dhotis':biggrin2::biggrin2:.:biggrin2:

 

[AmoghaVarsha]

Populate it with the so called Dhotis:biggrin2::biggrin2:.:biggrin2:

Dhoti population is close to 45% .There is a massive feeling of being neglected in the terai region.They have started hating the pahadis.Time to get the Tarai into India.

 

[nimo_cn]

so far, from every source I have read, of all the countries around OBOR, India has the most negative opinions. I think that may means China is doing something right.

I suggest that indian fellows feel no worry about what negative impacts OBOR will have on other countries. people are capable of making their own decisions, they will simply jump off the wagon once OBOR doesn't benefit them at all. after all, it's a voluntary program.

 

[nimo_cn]

India should, if not join in, appreciate Chinese effort to continue the trend of globalization by initiating program such as OBOR, as anti globalization sentiment is looming in the west. for big country like India which still has not finished industrialization, doing business through globalization is key to its economic development in the next decades.

 

[Krusty]

India should, if not join in, appreciate Chinese effort to continue the trend of globalization by initiating program such as OBOR, as anti globalization sentiment is looming in the west. for big country like India which still has not finished industrialization, doing business through globalization is key to its economic development in the next decades.

China can do whatever it wants with OBOR as Long as CPEC doesn't pass through disputed territory. CPEC passing through GB is the problem. Get rid of it and India will not complain. India is investing in industrial corridors of its own.

OT: China should take into considerations its own actions In POK before 'advising' India (when no one really asks or cares for it) on Bhutan issue.

 

[lcafanboy]

India should, if not join in, appreciate Chinese effort to continue the trend of globalization by initiating program such as OBOR, as anti globalization sentiment is looming in the west. for big country like India which still has not finished industrialization, doing business through globalization is key to its economic development in the next decades.

We're not against globalization. But we're dead against Chinaization. And that too on our land, no dear keep it to yourselves, we're not interested.

Historically too India was a dominant force in world trade on which China too took part through silk route and we will again be in next 10-15 years. It is this frustration of China which is coming out as without India CPEC or OBOR will surely fail and are a failure.

China is hell bent to get India on board as it will then be a success as it opens a market of 1.3 billion people without which rag-tag nations of Porkistan, Nepal, Myanmar, Laos, etc won't create any profits and the whole CPEC, OBOR will be a liability than a profit making venture. Instead Indian economic corridors supported by Japan & US will open much better opportunities just wait & watch.

 

[Hiranyaksha]

OBOR is never going to complete. Even Chinese do not have such crazy amount of money. They have now more serious problem looming in their own economy. Moody has already downgraded China's rating to A1 from Aa3.
Lolz. Chinese ain't crazy people. They will settle their own house first.

 

[sthf]

so far, from every source I have read, of all the countries around OBOR, India has the most negative opinions. I think that may means China is doing something right.

The only reason India is objecting to OBOR is because CPEC passes through the Indian territory. You change that and both of us can be on our merry way.

As for warnings India issued to other countries, take a look at Sri Lanka and point out where is India wrong in doing so.

 

[Suryavanshi]

The only reason India is objecting to OBOR is because CPEC passes through the Indian territory. You change that and both of us can be on our merry way.

As for warnings India issued to other countries, take a look at Sri Lanka and point out where is India wrong in doing so.

What happened to Sri Lanka?

30 charrrrrrrr

 

[sthf]

What happened to Sri Lanka?

30 charrrrrrrr

Type "Sri Lanka debt crisis" on Google and see for yourself.

 

[Dovah]

What happened to Sri Lanka?

30 charrrrrrrr

The infra (including the port) that China was building there turned out to be a debt-trap. Same thing they are going to do to Pakistan.

 

[Suryavanshi]

Type "Sri Lanka debt crisis" on Google and see for yourself.

Thank u sir it was a good read.
Now that Sri Lanka is in heavy debt what are their options?

 

[sthf]

Thank u sir it was a good read.
Now that Sri Lanka is in heavy debt what are their options?

You are welcome and no sir necessary.

....................

 

[gomat]

How mega transport project will be a game-changer for Pakistan

http://gulfnews.com/opinion/thinker...will-be-a-game-changer-for-pakistan-1.2049983

The $56 billion China Pakistan Economic Corridor (CPEC) is one of the most important parts of the China’s One Belt One Road (OBOR) initiative for a stronger trade connectivity in the world.



OBOR is China’s ambitious project to revive the ancient Silk route for trade connecting China, Central Asia and Europe by developing three main corridors via southern, northern and central Xinjiang, which links China with Pakistan, Russia, India and Europe.

The mega investment project that connects Pakistan with China is called CPEC — and it is the most significant part of the "One Belt, One Road" initiative.



China has made commitments to invest around $56 billion (Dh205.5 billion) in CPEC involving development deals, which is equivalent to roughly 20 per cent of Pakistan’s annual GDP.

CPEC is believed to be China’s biggest ever investment overseas to build a 3,218km route by 2030, consisting of highways, railways and pipelines that will connect Pakistan’s Gwadar Port to Xinjiang province of China.

In total, the economic corridor project aims to add some 17,000 megawatts of electricity generation at a cost of around $34 billion. The rest of the money will be spent on transport infrastructure, including upgrading the railway line between the port of Karachi and the northwest city of Peshawar.

Key corridor
Development of Gwadar port, which would provide Beijing a firm and long-term foothold in the Indian Ocean, is an important part of the CPEC as this economic corridor will behave as a channel for the novel Maritime Silk Route that imagines connecting three billion people in Asia, Africa and Europe.

CPEC aims to revive the earliest Silk Road with an emphasis on infrastructure, and establishes the strategic structure of bilateral cooperation.

The project associates China’s strategy to improve its western constituencies with Pakistan’s concentration on enhancing its economy, comprising the infrastructure construction of Gwadar Port.

However, Pakistan will benefit more from CPEC. China has become the second largest trade partner of Pakistan and biggest investor in infrastructure, telecommunications, ports, energy sectors.

Furthermore, Chinese government and private companies from China have guaranteed to spend $20 billion in the energy sector and massive amount of above $30 billion in other sectors as a foreign direct investment in Pakistan, which will help promote trade between the two countries.

The recent development in Pakistan-China corridor makes Pakistan the first transit hub for the world’s second largest economy among South Asian countries.

Irrespective of the political and military consequences of this project, it has numerous benefits for the people of the constituency.

Pakistan, which suffers from continuous energy shortages and low trade with its neighbours, will be better-linked and will have sufficient energy.

From East to West
A Pakistan-aligned road network will enable contacts among its neighbours in the west and east. India and Iran require this corridor for closer cooperation with each other’s economy.

Even though the CPEC simplifies movement of goods and services in the region, China’s contribution in the region’s economy turns rivals into stakeholders in preserving peace and stability in the region.

The CPEC is not only a game-changer in the region but will also be a ‘fate-changer’ for the people of Pakistan.The CPEC will serve as a gateway for trade not only for China and Pakistan, but for the whole region.

Connectivity
Better connectivity in the region will improve trade among Pakistan, China, Iran, India, Afghanistan and the Central Asian Republics.

Pakistan envisages the CPEC as a peace enabler because when connectivity and trade increases between countries, they tend to avoid conflicts. Through CPEC, Pakistan’s Vision 2025 seeks to position itself from a lower middle income country to high middle income country by achieving the target per capita GDP of $4,200.

Through this project Pakistan will become the hub of business and trade in Asia, and western China will be able to penetrate Asian and European markets. It will cater to the needs of all federal units of Pakistan through proper rail and road network and multiple projects on energy within the next three years.

Pakistan is expected to be totally transformed this year. The CPEC also attracts foreign and local investors in the fields of high-capacity industrial units, factory–market road transportation and distribution services, rail-supported bulk transit of goods, dry ports along the CPEC routes, storage facilities for transit food and goods.

Pakistan and China are to soon conclude agreements for financing and construction of the Gwadar International Airport and East-Bay Expressway.

Impact on the job market
Nine economic zones have been identified to be set up in different parts of the country. Currently feasibility studies are being undertaken and financial agreements are expected to be concluded by the next Joint Cooperation Committee meeting later this year.

Based on the profile of workforce engaged on projects in progress, officials insist that over 80 per cent direct new jobs will be filled by locals in the initial years.

However, if the multiplier effect over the next 10 years is taken into account the ratio would be no less than 1: 150 i.e. for each Chinese national inducted in a job, 150 Pakistanis will be employed.

The best of all is that CPEC enjoys the support and backing of all political parties and segments of the establishment in Pakistan. Its popularity among the public is also set to grow when they will start benefiting from the project.

For Pakistan, it will release huge development dividends benefiting all aspects of people’s lives.

 

[sthf]

How mega transport project will be a game-changer for Pakistan

I was wondering who fuck wrote this garbage of an article, then I read the name "Ashfaq Ahmad", yet another Paki masturbator.

And now I am wondering that should I too smoke the shit he is smoking or get back to my rum.

 

[mahesh]

For OBOR and CPEC China wants a immediate big market to turbo boom its westward route approach, India will the only fast reaping fruit of this project.
India has a better chances of rendering it on a dry run. Like how chinese built srilankan port has very few visiting ships and not getting share from colombo port. there is a lot of risk for chinese in their project where its nextdoor biggest market is not tapped.
China is using geographical areas as stake to deal india to make it oblige to it's (economical) OBOR, rather if india could hold on to the aggressive postures and manage to deal with it, then india could nearly make china to loosen its grip on the india's NSG bid. it will be a mind blowing task if india could manage to pullout NSG without satisfying china. that will be a BIG leap for us. it will be a good idea to have built all the reactors ready to run in the country before this happen. (point is to not let china run away before india capitalize on NSG). but as india have already said to russia and other major ally countries, india will not wait long of exploring alternative ways to get fossil materials.