India's Historic and Cultural Ties Vs China's Economic Power.

 India's Historic and Cultural Ties Vs China's Economic Power.

How China's economic power is winning over India's historic and cultural relations in its neighbourhood.

In today's Geopolitical world relations are changing as fast as technology. Very recently we have observed that china is advancing in India's neighbourhood very rapidly, especially in Indian Ocean. Here we are going to analyse how and why China advancing in India's neighbourhood. There are two important aspects of this. One is India's historic and cultural ties with the neighbours and second is China's economic advantage over India. 

India always talk about its strong historic and cultural relations with the neighbours. But, is this enough or is it always a positive point? In today's world where economy rules the world, historic and cultural ties has less significance. See, India's relations with Nepal are said like 'Roti- Beti relations'. If this is so then,why Nepal sliding towards China? It is because of India has not managed the relationship with farsightness and vision of security concerns. Do you remember in 2015 India's blockade of supply created shortage of fuel and medicine in Nepal. India showed that Nepal being a landlocked country totally depends upon India. But, Nepal has not expected this. Then, it realised it weakest point and China always in search of opportunity against India got the chance to enhance relations with Nepal. Nepal joined China' Belt and Road Initiative ' in May 2017. China being a economic power promised to invest heavily in infrastructure projects like cross border transport including railway, road, civil aviation, logistics and power grid. Here India's wrong diplomatic approach proved detrimental for it. Historic and cultural ties are not always positive for India as these historic ties contains Geographical disputes as well like Kalapani issue with Nepal.

Pakistan always in China's favour because here also historic and cultural ties acting against India and these also contains Geographical disputes like POK. China investing $ 60bn in CPEC( China Pakistan Economic Corridor) through POK. Additionally China's deep pockets also against India. And more importantly the Chanakya's Geopolitics concept that 'enemy's enemy is friend' is also working against India. India also applied this concept in building good relations with Afganistan but India's geographical reach is disconnected due to POK. And again China is investing in Afghanistan also.

China also planning to institutionalise 'Himalayan Quad' alongwith Afganistan, Pakistan and Nepal in response to the Quad of India, U.SA, Japan and Australia.

India also has historic and cultural relations with its Indian Ocean neighbour Sri Lanka. But, here also the cultural relations is not a positive point as it is said due to problems in the past regarding Tamil issue. China has invested around $12 bn between 2006 to 2019 in infrastructure projects in Sri Lanka. China has taken Hambantota port on lease for 99 years which is a huge security concerns for India.

We all are witness what recently has happened in Maldives also. Indian military is out and Maldives has signed military pact with China. This is a big Geopolitics stunt by China in which Turkey also involved. India must not take it lightly. Here India need to introspect what has gone wrong. Inspite of India's aid and investment Maldives turning towards China. India's foreign policy should be accountable for this.

Inspite of India's Neighbour first approach and  helping initiatives like SAGAR ( Security and Growth for All in the Region) the neighbours are sliding in China's favour. China has proposed " Forum on Development of Indian Ocean Islands Countries" in oppose of India's SAGAR initiative to increase presence in Indian Ocean.

In 2015, China became the top trading partner of Bangladesh by knocking out India that has held the position for 40 years. Bangladesh is also a member of Belt and Road Initiative. Bangladesh is also the second arm export destination of China after Pakistan. In case of Bangladesh also the historic and cultural ties have negative points also apart from few positive points. There is anti India sentiments taking place in Bangladesh population against India's objection to illegal migrants and CAA (Citizenship Amendment Act - 2019). India very well justified CAA on historic ground and countries around the world understand it very well. But China would like to take it as opportunity to enhance relations with Bangladesh. In case of Bangladesh, India successfully solved the historic border dispute. But,  China can try to exploit Tista river water dispute to distort India- Bangladesh relations.

So, we have understood that historic and cultural relations have not all the aspects positive  but some negatives as well. And these aspects are very well exploited by China against India. Thus, now , India should stop beating the "people to people connect" drum and need to forge some tactful diplomatic strategies in security point of view. China's economic power is turning India's neighbour in its favour. India need to be a economic power to counter China's influence in its neighbourhood. 

Also India need to enhance its maritime capabilities as China advancing more in Indian Ocean because China has  stronger maritime power. After Galwan incident China has understood that India has expertise in hilly tarains and it can't win here. So at LAC , China is doing only diverting techniques and its main focus is Indian Ocean.

India is a softer power than China, no doubt about it, but its soft power is not backed by its  economy and China's hard power is backed by its economy. Therefore India has to enhance its self reliant capabilities rather than depending upon historic and cultural ties with neighbours as these ties have some side effects as well. India need to develop state of the art naval capabilities in Indian Ocean at Andaman and Nicobar and Lakshadweep. India can't left its security concerns on relations with neighbours based on historic and cultural ties because in today's Geopolitical world economy matter more than historic and cultural ties.