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String of Pearls Doctrine
- The String of Pearls is a strategy of China, by building a network of commercial and military bases and ports in many countries in the Indian Ocean Region (IOR) surrounding India.
- This strategy has been deployed by China to protect its trade interests, as a major chunk of its trade passes through the Indian Ocean and various choke points like Strait of Hormuz, Strait of Malacca, and Lombok Strait.
- Defence analysts believe that this doctrine along with initiatives like the China-Pakistan Economic Corridor and other parts of China’s One Belt and One Road Initiative, is a threat to India’s national security.
- This as such a system would encircle India and threaten its power projection, trade, and potentially territorial integrity.
Possible Impacts on India:
- Strategic impact – China, which doesn’t have any openings in Indian ocean, will be able to dominate it. Strategic clout of India which it enjoys today in Indian ocean will be reduced
- Economic impact – Indian resources will be diverted towards defence and security. Thus, the economy will not reach its potential hampering economic growth.
- Maritime security – China’s presence will pose a threat to India’s maritime security. China is developing more firepower with more submarines, destroyers, vessels, and ships endangering Indian maritime security.
Steps taken by India to counter String of Pearls
- Act East Policy – launched as an effort to integrate India’s economy with South-East Asian nations has been used to make important military and strategic agreements with Vietnam, South Korea, Japan, Philippines, Indonesia, Thailand, and Singapore helping India to counter China.
- Military relationships – India has also made strategic agreements for military cooperation in the region with Japan, Australia, and the USA under Quad Grouping
- Chabahar port – India is developing Chabahar port in Iran, opening a new land sea route to Central Asian countries by-passing Pakistan. Chabahar gives India a strategic position since it overlooks the Gulf of Oman, a very strategic oil supply route.
- Strategic pact with France – grants the Indian Navy access to strategically important French ports across the Indian Ocean, including one in Djibouti, home to China’s single overseas military base.
- Surrounding China in the north – India has invested a lot diplomatically in countries like Turkmenistan, Uzbekistan, Kyrgyzstan, Kazakhstan and Mongolia, all surrounding China.
- Naval bases and airfields – India negotiated military access to naval facilities at Oman’s port and airfields. With expanded bases on the Andaman and Nicobar Islands at the end of the Malacca Strait, India is raising the stakes in the fight over the waters of Southeast Asia.
Recent Issues
- Galwan Valley standoff – The 1st deadly clash in the border area in at least 45 years, which led to death of 20 Indian soldiers
- India-China military standoff had also occurred in 2017 at Doklam, near Sikkim-Bhutan border
- Reorganisation of Jammu and Kashmir – China had earlier protested against the formation of new Union Territory of Ladakh and accused India of trying to transform the LAC unilaterally.
- Global backlash against China for mishandling of COVID-19 – India had supported a Resolution at the World Health Assembly demanding a fair probe into the origin of Coronavirus
- India’s steps in Indo-Pacific – India’s participation in QUAD Grouping, with strong maritime component and proposals like Supply Chain Resilient initiative are seen by China as potential anti-Chinese alliance of democracies aimed at containing it and checking its maritime rise in the Indo-Pacific
- Economic measures by India in the backdrop of standoff – The government has banned more than 100 Chinese apps from operating in India including popular apps like Tiktok, PUBG etc giving a phenomenal loss to the companies
- Government introduced changes in FDI rules which mandate “prior approval” from the Centre for foreign investments from countries “that share border with India”
- Union Minister for Road Transport and Highways has announced that Chinese companies would not be allowed to take part in road projects
With a combined market of over 2.7 billion people and a GDP of 20% of the world’s total, China and India enjoy huge potential and broad prospects for economic and trade cooperation. It is particularly important to revisit the original aspiration of establishing diplomatic relations 70 years ago and carry forward the spirit of good neighbourliness and friendship, unity, and cooperation.
Why should India and China repair their ties?
- Strategic reasons – Better relationship between two countries will bring peace in the region and they can fight against terrorism and underdevelopment in the region.
- Keeping Pakistan under check and getting support for UNSC membership could happen if we have a more sustained and defined relationship with China.
- Economic factors – With Global uncertainty, growing Protectionism and anti-Globalization trend, India and China, both beneficiaries of liberal international order must work closely to sustain the same.
- China has a huge forex reserve and India needs foreign investment for projects like Make in India.
- Both nations are members of NDB, AIIB, BRICS, BCIM etc and hence good relations among them can bring economic prosperity.
- Asian Emergence – With the Russian economy crumbling, India and China are two of the great powers who would have a greater role to play.
- Thus, a cordial relationship is vital for holistic development of the region.
- Converging Interests in Global Arena – Closer cooperation is required between the two nations to push the interests of Developing World in global groupings and agreements.
- Both countries have advocated democratization of international institutions such as the World Bank, IMF, etc.
- China and India have similar stand during WTO negotiations.
- China and India, being the main targets of criticism by the US and its friends, have so far successfully coordinated their strategies in the environmental summits.
- Terrorism – The two countries have a common interest in curbing religious radicalism and terrorism.
- Kashmir and Xinjiang, both contiguous neighbours, have similar challenges posed by terrorism and separatist movements.
- China too faces the tune of infiltration and drug trafficking. So, indulging in mutual intelligence sharing and cooperation is required for a more secure border.
A strong India-China relationship is important not only for the mutual benefit of the people of India and China, but also for the region and the world.
Recent Developments
- India China had two informal summits, Wuhan Summit 2018 and Mamallapuram Summit 2019, which has significantly helped navigate their relationship during turbulent times.
- China welcomed India’s full membership of Shanghai Cooperation Organization (SCO), a Eurasian political, economic, and security alliance.
- Internal Security Agreement – India and China signed their first ever internal security cooperation agreement in 2018, ensuring support to each other in dealing with problems of terrorism, human trafficking, smuggling of drugs and arms etc.
- India’s candidature to UNSC non-permanent seat for 2021-22 was unanimously supported by all 55 nations of Asia Pacific group, with China also voting in favour of India.
The Wuhan and Mamallapuram summits acknowledge that India and China are not ‘adversaries’ but two large economic powers open to a healthy competition in a multi-polar world. India must be proactive to resist any Chinese transgressions and at the same time utilize its diplomatic skills to tone down the tensions.
Way Forward
- Reducing Trade imbalance – India and China should build a ‘manufacturing partnership’ to better balance the trade between the two countries and enhance commercial relations; both need to identify roadmaps to address this trade deficit.
- Working together in international issues – both should collaborate and cooperate to address the global developmental challenges, including climate change and meet the Sustainable Development Goals
- India and China should form effective collaborations to save globalization, defend WTO, and promoting a multi-polar world
- India should step up its strategic partnership with like-minded countries to check the assertiveness of China whenever necessary.
- Bring into action the planned strategic Asia Africa Growth Corridor with the help of Japan.
- Quad Grouping should be made more effective to play important role in the Indian ocean security.
- Regional and Border disputes should be resolved through dialogue and consultation; informal summits should be organized in a regular manner to strengthen the cooperation.
- India should necessarily build up economic and security capabilities and begin to close the power gap with China.
- India should aggressively pursue ‘Cotton Route’, Project Mausam and Spice Route to strengthen economic ties between countries in the Indian Ocean rim
- Promote people to people contact which is presently very low, by building on the civilizational ties between nations.
It seems that while an urge for closer cooperation motivates enhanced economic affairs between New Delhi and Beijing, competition is still what marks their bilateral diplomatic relations. The diplomatic rivalry in question is not limited to strategic concerns but is further fuelled by a chronic border dispute.
On the other hand, neither Beijing nor New Delhi can afford to turn a blind eye to the huge benefits that intense economic cooperation can potentially bring about. Therefore, both countries are trying to capitalize on mutual economic benefits while working hard to contain political frictions within manageable limits.
Both India and China should accept the other’s rise as inevitable and learn to live with it, accommodating each other. And India must try to put in place the means to make that the reasonable choice for China.
Previous Year Questions
- ‘China is using its economic relations and positive trade surplus as tools to develop potential military power status in Asia’, In the light of this statement, discuss its impact on India as her neighbour. (2017)
- With respect to the South China Sea, maritime territorial disputes and rising tension affirm the need for safeguarding maritime security to ensure freedom of navigation and ever flight throughout the region. In this context, discuss the bilateral issues between India and China (2014)
- What do you understand by ‘The String of Pearls’? How does it impact India? Briefly outline the steps taken by India to counter this. (2013)