India Refuses to Support BRI at SCO Summit. Here's Why | Vantage with Palki Sharma

Firstpost

5 Jul 202305:02

Summary

TLDRThe video script discusses India's position at the recent SEO Summit hosted by Prime Minister Modi, where leaders from China, Pakistan, and Russia were present. The joint statement, called the New Delhi Declaration, highlighted differences between India and China, particularly regarding China's Belt and Road Initiative (BRI), which India opposes due to sovereignty concerns and regional implications. India also refrained from supporting a development strategy for 2030, as it was perceived to be aligned with Chinese interests. The analysis underscores India's strategic stance to counterbalance China's influence in Central Asia by remaining involved in the SEO.

Takeaways

🌍 The SCO Summit, hosted by Indian Prime Minister Modi, included leaders from China, Pakistan, and Russia, resulting in the New Delhi declaration.
🐘 There were notable differences between India and China during the summit, with Pakistan also having its own issues with India.
🚫 India did not support China's Belt and Road Initiative (BRI), as it undercuts India's regional position and violates its sovereignty, particularly through projects in Pakistan-occupied Kashmir.
🛣️ The joint statement showed that all SCO members except India reaffirmed support for the BRI.
🗣️ Prime Minister Modi emphasized that connectivity projects should not violate territorial integrity, signaling India's firm stance against the BRI.
🇨🇳 China's BRI is a significant project for President Xi Jinping, but India's consistent opposition has been a setback for Beijing.
⛔ India also chose not to support the SCO's 2030 development strategy, which was seen as being influenced by China's agenda.
🔗 The strategy included the Global Development Initiative proposed by Xi Jinping in 2021, which India did not endorse.
📉 The script highlights friction within the SCO and suggests that India's presence in the organization helps limit China's influence in Central Asia.
🔍 India's involvement in the SCO is portrayed as a strategic move to prevent unchecked Chinese dominance in the region.

Q & A

What is the New Delhi declaration?
-The New Delhi declaration is a joint statement released at the end of the SEO Summit hosted by Prime Minister Modi. It reflects the outcomes and agreements of the summit, including support for China's Belt and Road Initiative (BRI) by most member countries.
Which countries supported China's Belt and Road Initiative (BRI) in the New Delhi declaration?
-Kazakhstan, Kyrgyzstan, Pakistan, Russia, Tajikistan, and Uzbekistan supported China's Belt and Road Initiative in the New Delhi declaration. India did not support it.
Why does India oppose China's Belt and Road Initiative (BRI)?
-India opposes China's Belt and Road Initiative because it undermines India's position in the region and violates India's sovereignty. The BRI includes projects in Pakistan-occupied Kashmir, which India considers part of its own territory.
What was Prime Minister Modi's stance on connectivity projects during the summit?
-Prime Minister Modi emphasized that connectivity projects must not violate territorial integrity, reflecting India's position against China's Belt and Road Initiative.
How has India historically responded to China's Belt and Road Initiative (BRI)?
-India has consistently opposed the Belt and Road Initiative, boycotting the first Belt and Road Forum in 2017. India sees the BRI as a threat to its sovereignty and regional influence.
What was the significance of the Doklam standoff between India and China?
-The Doklam standoff occurred shortly after India boycotted the Belt and Road Forum in 2017, leading to a military standoff at the tri-junction between India, China, and Bhutan. The situation was widely seen as Chinese payback for India's stance against the BRI.
Why did India refuse to sign the SEO's development strategy for 2030?
-India refused to sign the SEO's development strategy for 2030 because it was influenced by Chinese agenda, including the Global Development Initiative proposed by Xi Jinping, which India decided not to support.
What is the Global Development Initiative, and why did India not support it?
-The Global Development Initiative is a proposal by Xi Jinping in 2021 aimed at promoting global economic development. India did not support it because it is aligned with China's strategic interests, which India opposes.
How does India's participation in the SEO impact China's influence in Central Asia?
-India's participation in the SEO helps limit China's influence in Central Asia. By being part of the organization, India can counterbalance China's strategic initiatives, such as the Belt and Road Initiative.
What might happen to the SEO's joint statements if India were not a member?
-If India were not a member of the SEO, joint statements might be more heavily influenced by Chinese interests, potentially reflecting Xi Jinping's strategic vision without opposition.

Outlines

00:00

🇮🇳 The New Delhi Declaration and India's Strategic Stance

The script discusses the SEO Summit hosted by Prime Minister Modi, where leaders from China, Pakistan, and Russia participated. The summit concluded with the New Delhi declaration, a joint statement that highlighted differences between India and other members, particularly China. A key point of contention was the Belt and Road Initiative (BRI) led by China, which India refused to support due to concerns over its sovereignty and regional position. India's opposition is rooted in the BRI's projects in Pakistan-occupied Kashmir, which violate India's territorial integrity. Prime Minister Modi emphasized that connectivity should not compromise territorial sovereignty, marking India's clear stance against the BRI.

🇨🇳 China's Belt and Road Initiative: A Grand Yet Contested Vision

China's Belt and Road Initiative (BRI) is described as Xi Jinping's ambitious plan to dominate global trade routes. The BRI has faced opposition, most notably from India, which boycotted the first Belt and Road Forum in 2017. India's absence was a significant blow to Xi Jinping, leading to tensions between the two nations, such as the Doklam standoff. The script highlights how China has used various strategies, including force and diplomacy, to push the BRI forward. Despite these efforts, the initiative has lost momentum, particularly after the pandemic, with some countries like Italy considering withdrawing from it.

🌍 The SEO Development Strategy and India's Resistance

The script addresses the SCO's adoption of a development strategy for 2030, which India refused to sign due to its alignment with Chinese interests. The strategy included the Global Development Initiative proposed by Xi Jinping in 2021. India's refusal to support these documents reflects its broader resistance to China's influence within the SCO. The New Delhi declaration subtly acknowledges India's stance by referring to the strategy as being supported by 'interested member states,' indicating that not all members, including India, were on board. This highlights the underlying friction within the SCO and India's strategic importance in balancing China's growing influence in Central Asia.

Mindmap

Keywords

💡SEO Summit

The SEO Summit refers to the Shanghai Cooperation Organization Summit, a meeting where leaders from several Asian countries, including China, Pakistan, and Russia, gather to discuss regional cooperation and security. The video highlights this summit as a critical event where geopolitical tensions, especially between India and China, come to the forefront. The SEO Summit's outcomes, like the joint statement, showcase these underlying frictions.

💡New Delhi Declaration

The New Delhi Declaration is the joint statement issued at the conclusion of the SEO Summit, summarizing the agreements and positions of the attending member states. It reflects the collective stance of the SEO but also highlights the divisions among members, particularly India's opposition to certain Chinese initiatives. The declaration underscores India's diplomatic stance in the face of Chinese influence.

💡Belt and Road Initiative (BRI)

China's Belt and Road Initiative (BRI) is a global development strategy aimed at building infrastructure and economic ties across Asia, Africa, and Europe. In the video, BRI is portrayed as a contentious issue, particularly because India opposes it due to sovereignty concerns and its implications in the region, such as projects in Pakistan-occupied Kashmir. The BRI symbolizes China's broader ambitions and the geopolitical struggles it ignites.

💡China-Pakistan Economic Corridor (CPEC)

The China-Pakistan Economic Corridor (CPEC) is a major component of the Belt and Road Initiative, involving extensive infrastructure projects in Pakistan. The video emphasizes India's opposition to CPEC because some projects are located in Pakistan-occupied Kashmir, which India claims as its own territory. This project exemplifies the geopolitical tensions between India, China, and Pakistan.

💡Doklam Standoff

The Doklam Standoff refers to a military confrontation between India and China in 2017 at the tri-junction between India, China, and Bhutan. The video suggests that this standoff was partly a response to India's boycott of the Belt and Road Forum, highlighting the tense relations between the two nations. It serves as an example of the broader strategic and military rivalry in the region.

💡Galwan Valley Escalation

The Galwan Valley Escalation was a violent border clash between Indian and Chinese troops in 2020, resulting in casualties on both sides. This incident is cited in the video as part of the ongoing military tensions between the two countries, further complicating their diplomatic relations and contributing to India's reluctance to engage with China's initiatives like the BRI.

💡Global Development Initiative

The Global Development Initiative is a proposal by China, introduced by President Xi Jinping in 2021, aimed at promoting international development cooperation. The video notes that India did not support this initiative during the SEO Summit, viewing it as another example of China's attempts to expand its influence, further illustrating the friction between India's and China's global strategies.

💡Territorial Integrity

Territorial Integrity refers to the principle under international law that nation-states should not promote secessionist movements or border changes in other countries. In the video, Prime Minister Modi emphasizes this concept, particularly in opposition to China's BRI, which includes projects in disputed territories like Pakistan-occupied Kashmir. India's insistence on territorial integrity underscores its core foreign policy concerns.

💡Xi Jinping

Xi Jinping is the President of China and the key architect of initiatives like the Belt and Road Initiative and the Global Development Initiative. The video portrays Xi as determined to expand China's global influence through these projects, often at the expense of regional stability, particularly with India. His leadership is central to the geopolitical strategies discussed in the video.

💡Strategic Rivalry

Strategic Rivalry refers to the intense competition between countries for regional dominance, particularly in terms of military, economic, and diplomatic influence. The video illustrates this rivalry through the lens of India and China's interactions at the SEO Summit, their standoffs in Doklam and Galwan, and their opposing positions on initiatives like the BRI. This rivalry shapes much of the geopolitical landscape in Asia.

Highlights

Prime Minister Modi hosted the SEO Summit with leaders from China, Pakistan, and Russia in attendance.

The New Delhi declaration was released at the end of the summit.

India did not support the joint statement's reaffirmation of China's Belt and Road Initiative (BRI).

India has never supported China's BRI due to concerns over regional influence and sovereignty violations.

The BRI includes projects in Pakistan-occupied Kashmir, which India considers a violation of its territorial integrity.

Prime Minister Modi emphasized that connectivity projects must not violate territorial integrity in his opening remarks.

China's first Belt and Road Forum in 2017 was boycotted by India.

Following India's boycott, a standoff occurred at the tri-junction between India, China, and Bhutan.

The 2017 standoff ended ahead of the BRICS Summit, but tensions resurfaced in 2020 in the Galwan Valley.

In September 2020, China agreed to disengage from certain points in Ladakh.

China is determined to get India on board with the BRI through various means.

The COVID-19 pandemic has stalled many BRI investments and projects.

Some countries, like Italy, are considering leaving the BRI.

India also refused to support the SEO's development strategy for 2030 due to Chinese influence.

India's participation in the SEO aims to limit China's influence in Central Asia.