China’s Maritime Silk Road Initiative and South Asia

A Political Economic Analysis of its Purposes, Perils, and Promise

herausgegeben von: Jean-Marc F. Blanchard

Verlag: Springer Singapore

Buchreihe : Palgrave Studies in Asia-Pacific Political Economy

Enthalten in: Springer Professional "Wirtschaft+Technik" , Springer Professional "Wirtschaft"

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Über dieses Buch

This book brings together a diverse range of responses to China's Marine Silk Road Initiative, which proposes to redraw the map of Asia, particularly South Asia. China’s 21st Century Maritime Silk Road Initiative (MSRI) is a massive scheme to connect wide swaths of East, Southeast, South, and West Asia through a dense web of interconnected hard and soft infrastructure involving ports, roads, logistics facilities, special industrial zones, and free trade and investment agreements. This book will be invaluable for students of Chinese foreign security and foreign economic policy, those interested in South Asia including Indian foreign security and economic policy as well as Indian relations with China, those attentive to international economic developments in East and South Asia, and those interested in the political and economic situation in specific MSRI participant countries such as Pakistan, Maldives, and Sri Lanka as well as their political and economic relations with China.

Inhaltsverzeichnis

Frontmatter

Chapter 1. China’s Twenty-First Century Maritime Silk Road Initiative and South Asia: Political and Economic Contours, Challenges, and Conundrums

Abstract

This introduction consists of two key parts. The first provides background information on China’s Maritime Silk Road Initiative (MSRI) and delves into its goals and the obstacles China faces in realizing them. The second summarizes the book’s chapters and their findings. The first part demonstrates that the MSRI has numerous economic and political purposes at the national and subnational level, that China faces numerous daunting challenges, and that nonstate actors are an important part of the story. Summarizing the chapters, the introduction makes clear MSRI generated economic stimuli may not have positive political consequences, that observers of the MSRI need to pay attention to economic actors and issues and that we can be calm now about the MSRI’s potentially transformative effects. Finally, it demonstrates it is vital for China to bring India onboard to realize the MSRI’s full potential and that the MSRI will create many business and economic opportunities and challenges.

Jean-Marc F. Blanchard

Chapter 2. China’s Rise and the Eurasian Transportation Revolution

Abstract

China is now applying powerful railway and highway technology to its project of conquering the tyranny of distance and tough terrain that had historically trapped its great dynastic states in East Asia. In consequence, the extent of a rejuvenated China’s influence is likely to stretch into regions of Eurasia, especially the South Asia–Indian Ocean region, far beyond imperial China’s traditional sphere. The impact of this on China’s neighbors will be significant, both drawing them into China’s economic and political orbit and causing them to seek means of countering or balancing China’s growing influence. India, once protected by the aforementioned tyranny of distance, will feel China’s growing influence in two contradictory ways: apprehension over China’s “creeping encirclement” and an effort to harness China’s economic growth in order to accelerate its own development.

John W. Garver

Chapter 3. The MSRI and the Evolving Naval Balance in the Indian Ocean

Abstract

Control over access to the Indian Ocean, whether by land or by sea, is often seen through an intensely strategic lens. The Indian Ocean is a relatively closed strategic space that has been dominated by a succession of extra-regional naval powers—most recently the USA—while land powers such as China have largely been excluded from the region. But China’s Maritime Silk Road Initiative (MSRI), involving the construction of new maritime pathways to and across the Indian Ocean, will likely alter the naval balance in the Indian Ocean and, perhaps, the entire strategic nature of the region. This chapter considers how China’s new pathways to the Indian Ocean may fundamentally change China’s political and economic footprint in the region.

David Brewster

Chapter 4. China’s Strategy Towards South Asia in the Context of the Maritime Silk Road Initiative

Abstract

China’s strategy towards South Asia (SA) presents a patchwork of bilateral relations rather than a holistic policy due to the lack of a SA identity and China’s policy preferences. China has pursued a subtle balance in SA with the exception of the antagonism that exists between it and India. China’s Maritime Silk Road Initiative (MSRI) objectives, while hardly excluding strategic concerns, mainly flow from economic considerations: for example, restructuring industries, updating China’s growth model, securing resource supplies, finding new markets, and so on, while increasing participants’ benefits. For China, supplying collective goods like the Silk Road Fund and technical and financial resources is both a cost of and a means to realize the MSRI. The implementation of MSRI, because of challenges such as India’s indifference to the MSRI, is stirring China to shape an integrated SA strategy.

Xinmin Sui

Chapter 5. The China–Pakistan Economic Corridor and the China–India–Pakistan Triangle

Abstract

The China–Pakistan Economic Corridor (CPEC), which has both sea- and land-based links to China’s MSRI, represents an adjustment of bilateral ties between the two countries from a military- and political-elite-dominated relationship to one based on economic foundations. The process is, however, far more complex and fraught than is evident in the mutually reinforcing rhetoric of the two sides. Much about the CPEC remains uncertain including its ultimate economic benefits for both countries. For India, however, despite these uncertainties mere opposition might not be an option or the wisest course of action given that it could both potentially play a swing role in the success of the CPEC, with economic benefits for itself in the process, and refashion bilateral ties with its two neighbors.

Jabin T. Jacob

Chapter 6. Sri Lanka, the Maritime Silk Road, and Sino-Indian Relations

Abstract

Sri Lanka is a vital node in China’s Maritime Silk Road Initiative given its strategic location. But its proximity to India to and long historical and cultural links with India also mean it is of profound interest to that country. Thus, there is strong potential for the country to become an arena of maritime competition and geopolitical rivalry between the two giants. Indeed, both have attempted to influence Sri Lankan domestic politics while Colombo has tried to extract benefits from them. Still, Colombo recognizes it requires Chinese help to develop and thus has been inclined to act favorably towards Beijing. Karl provides an overview of these dynamics and contemplates: how Sino-Indian frictions over Sri Lanka might affect the MSRI; Sri Lanka’s role in the MSRI; and the MSRI’s potential to enhance China–India relations.

David J. Karl

Chapter 7. The Maritime Silk Road and China–Maldives Relations

Abstract

Maldives occupies a crucial place in China’s 2013 Maritime Silk Road Initiative (MSRI) given the country’s geostrategic location in the Indian Ocean. Chinese policymakers, academics, and media commentators have recently highlighted the need for China to participate actively in the Indian Ocean and develop a robust relationship with Maldives in order to protect its resource flows and position itself for power transition in the region. China has stepped up contacts with Maldives and is actively pursuing the MSRI plan of laying down dual-use infrastructure projects in the region. This chapter argues that Chinese relations with Maldives are expanding and that this is reflected in high-level visits, the provision of aid and loans, the construction of infrastructure projects like the strategic iHavan project, the expansion of tourism, and free-trade talks.

Srikanth Kondapalli

Chapter 8. The MSRI, China, and India: Economic Perspectives and Political Impressions

Abstract

China’s ambitious connectivity plan of linking Asia and Europe through an integrated network of land and sea routes has significant economic and strategic implications for India. The chapter examines these in regards to China’s MSRI. It specifically analyzes the MSRI as an economic corridor, along with variations in its economic geography through regions that have varying abilities to exploit emerging opportunities, and contemplates the related impressions of Indian business and government. The chapter reviews the likely impact of regional frameworks on the MSRI and the concomitant influences on Chinese and Indian business perceptions arising from political-economic complexities in trade rules. It further examines the MSRI in the context of China–India bilateral economic relations and identifies the conditions necessary for India’s successful integration into the connectivity plan.

Amitendu Palit

Backmatter

Titel: China’s Maritime Silk Road Initiative and South Asia
herausgegeben von: Jean-Marc F. Blanchard
Verlag: Springer Singapore
Electronic ISBN: 978-981-10-5239-2
Print ISBN: 978-981-10-5238-5
DOI: https://doi.org/10.1007/978-981-10-5239-2