BRI : A Challenge Or An Opportunity ?

 After taking oath as Chinese president, Mr. Xi Jinping designed and launched a massive economic project in 2013, famously known as ‘OBOR or BRI’. It mainly consist 2 arms which are land silk route and ocean silk route.After recession of 2008 and being a much larger economy than India (almost 5 times larger), president Xi Jinping projected it as an economic project with an objective to become superpower both in terms of strategically and militarily. Chinese govt. started infusing money in south and south-east Asia, Africa and central Asia by providing cheaper loan and sometimes investing in infrastructure projects. They are also using BRICS & AIIB to finance some projects which linked to BRI.

But this economic agenda now pushing many countries in debt trap. Countries like Malaysia, Sri Lanka is now reconsidering their projects linked with it. Second and most important issues is of sovereignty which mostly hurts India because of CPEC. If it becomes reality then Chinese will encircle India completely and they will act aggressively on border. As CPEC completes Chinese will be in more comfort situation & secure position as far as energy security is concerned. Thirdly, environmental destruction & degradation is going to affect badly, especially to Himalayan nations. Fourthly, data shows that after 2013 china became more active in Indian ocean countries and established itself as political and security partner of many Indian ocean nations. It will certainly bring instability. We already seen it in Doklam, Maldives and now in Sri Lanka.

Despite of challenges, if framework of BRI become more clear then infrastructure problems of South Asian region can be addressed in more transparent way and the least connected region of the world will get benefits of enhanced connectivity. Increased in connectivity will also ensure more development and reduction in unemployment, atmosphere of hostility in India’s north east region. Cultural and technological exchanges with increase in export will become easier in the region.As a nation we should be optimistic but at the same time we must be cautious and alert about the activities of china so that we keep ourselves more informed citizen about a famous phrase “ Elephant and Dragon can dance together” to get the answer of the question mentioned as title.