Indian Perceptions of the Chinese Belt and Road Initiative
| Date | 01 October 2018 |
| DOI | 10.1177/0020881718807359 |
| Published date | 01 October 2018 |
| Subject Matter | Articles |
Indian Perceptions of
the Chinese Belt and
Road Initiative
Gulshan Sachdeva1
Abstract
This article has captured evolving Indian narratives concerning One Belt One
Road (OBOR) or the Belt and Road Initiative (BRI). In the context of changing
scope of the BRI, perceptions are also evolving. The article has covered wider
perceptions, which go much beyond limited official narrative. Broader India–
China ties have affected BRI discussions. The sovereignty-related issues con-
cerning the China–Pakistan Economic Corridor (CPEC) and broader geopolitical
implications within the Indian Ocean Region have overshadowed other aspects
of the BRI. India’s participation in the Asian Infrastructure Investment Bank
(AIIB), Shanghai Cooperation Organisation (SCO) and BRICS had relatively little
impact on New Delhi’s perception of the BRI. In fact, the Bangladesh–China–
India–Myanmar Economic Cooperation (BCIM) corridor, which was graduated
to Track I in 2013, has rather become victim of the BRI geopolitics. Although a
large number of independent analysts have argued for a selective participation
in the BRI, this has hardly been reflected in government policy. As the BRI pro-
gresses, the Indian focus is more on perusing its own connectivity plans (individu-
ally or with other partners) and also on showing how some of the BRI projects
are creating difficulties for recipient countries. From the earlier geopolitical and
developmental aspects of the initiative, the focus is now shifting more towards a
political economy analysis of participating countries. Increasing difficulties faced
by BRI projects in terms of debt trap, corruption, political controversies, nega-
tive environmental implications and overall sustainability of projects are also
being analysed in India.
Keywords
One Belt One Road, Belt and Road Initiative, China, New Silk Road, Indian
foreign policy, geopolitics, China–Pakistan Economic Corridor, AIIB, BCIM
Article
International Studies
55(4) 285–296
2018 Jawaharlal Nehru University
SAGE Publications
sagepub.in/home.nav
DOI: 10.1177/0020881718807359
http://journals.sagepub.com/home/isq
1 Jean Monnet Chair and Director, Europe Area Studies Programme, School of International Studies,
Jawaharlal Nehru University, New Delhi, India.
Corresponding author:
Gulshan Sachdeva, Jean Monnet Chair and Director, Europe Area Studies Programme, School of
International Studies, Jawaharlal Nehru University, New Delhi 110067, India.
E-mail: gulshanjnu@gmail.com
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