In the Islamabad conference hall, the atmosphere was delicate and complex, and the SCO member states gathered to discuss regional cooperation, but the statement of the representative of India cast a shadow over the event
India's Foreign Minister S Jaishankar, a diplomat with a strong personal style, once again expressed India's firm position on the Belt and Road Initiative: refusal, like throwing a stone into a calm lake, caused ripples and made the relationship between the Belt and Road Initiative and India once again the focus of international public opinion
"Debt trap" - this is India's repeated concern that the "Belt and Road" initiative may burden the participating countries with a heavy debt burden and eventually fall into economic difficulties, this concern is not unfounded, but it is not a universal truth, each country has its own national conditions and development stage, how to participate in the "Belt and Road" initiative, need to be weighed and selected according to their own situation
In addition to the "debt trap", another thing that makes India haunt is the China-Pakistan Economic Corridor, which crosses Pakistan and connects China's Xinjiang and Gwadar port economic artery, but in the eyes of India has become a symbol of "violation of territorial integrity", and part of the China-Pakistan Economic Corridor passes through the disputed Kashmir region of India and Pakistan, harming India's sovereign interests
India opposition reflects the geopolitical anxieties of the region, which India has always seen as its "backyard" and tried to play a dominant role in it, India which has been challenged as China's influence in South Asia has gradually expanded
In the face of the Belt and Road Initiative, India has not been without its alternatives, from the "Monsoon Project" to the "Spice Road", India have tried to strengthen ties with their South Asian neighbors and maintain their traditional influence in the region, but these plans have not been satisfactory
India's shortcomings in infrastructure construction also limit its competitiveness with the Belt and Road Initiative, and India's infrastructure construction has lagged behind the needs of economic development, which also hinders its connectivity with its South Asian neighbors to a certain extent
To counter the Belt and Road Initiative, India has also actively sought cooperation with United States, both of which see the Belt and Road Initiative as a challenge to their own interests and are trying to join forces to create a new economic corridor to counter China's influence
The complex relationship between India and the Belt and Road Initiative has aroused the attention of the international community, and some countries have expressed understanding of India's opposition and believe that each country has the right to choose its own development path. Others regretted India's decision, arguing that it could miss development opportunities and have a negative impact on regional cooperation
As an open and inclusive initiative, the Belt and Road Initiative is based on the concept of extensive consultation, joint contribution and shared cooperation, and all willing countries are welcome to participate in it
Reflecting its globalization context, thinking about its own interests and development path, let's wait and see how India and the Belt and Road Initiative will interact in the coming days
The story of India and the Belt and Road Initiative, which is a story about cooperation and competition, opportunities and challenges, is also a story that needs to be written by all countries, full of variables on the international stage, only by adhering to dialogue and consultation can we find the best way to resolve differences and achieve win-win results
Not on the spur of the moment, but after a deliberate strategic choice, both realistic and deep-seated, to truly understand India's position, we must go beyond the superficial and delve into the complex fabric of its history, culture, and geopolitics
The "Non-Aligned Movement" - this political legacy born during the Cold War has profoundly influenced India's diplomatic thinking, and India has always adhered to an independent foreign policy, unwilling to be easily drawn into the vortex of great power competition, let alone become a "pawn" of any country
"Strategic autonomy" - this is the key word that India has repeatedly emphasized in recent years, and India hopes to play a more important role in the international arena and have a greater voice, rather than being subject to any external forces
"South Asian hegemon" - this is the general impression of India, as the most populous and economically powerful country in South Asia, India has always regarded South Asia as its "sphere of influence" and tried to bring other South Asian countries into its orbit
With the rise of China and the Belt and Road Initiative, these traditional beliefs of India have been challenged, and China's growing influence in South Asia is seen by India as a threat to its regional dominance
The China-Pakistan Economic Corridor (CPEC) has become a lingering shadow in India's mind, and the economic artery connecting China's Xinjiang and Pakistan's Gwadar port is seen by India as a direct challenge to its territorial integrity and security interests
The Belt and Road Initiative (BRI) is not simply an economic cooperation project, but an extension of China's geopolitical strategy, with the ultimate goal of bringing South Asia into China's "sphere of influence"
In the face of the rise of China and the challenges of the Belt and Road Initiative, India has adopted a "dual-track" response strategy: on the one hand, it actively seeks to strengthen cooperation with United States, Japan, Australia and other countries, creates the "Indo-Pacific Strategy" and the "Quadrilateral Security Dialogue" mechanism, and tries to build a containment circle of China; On the other hand, it has stepped up its own infrastructure construction and launched a "neighbor first" policy in an attempt to strengthen ties with its South Asian neighbors and consolidate its traditional influence in the region
India faces many challenges in these efforts
There are historical problems and practical conflicts of interest between India and its South Asian neighbors, which make it difficult for India to truly win the trust and support of these countries
United States and other countries are not without conditions for their support for India, and these countries hope to use India to balance China, but they are not willing to really help India improve its comprehensive national strength
In the complex international environment, India's future road is full of challenges and opportunities, and how to handle relations with China, how to safeguard its own interests, and how to achieve its own development will be major issues that India must face in the future
The Belt and Road Initiative provides India with a platform to participate in regional cooperation and achieve common development, and whether India is willing to seize this opportunity depends on its own strategic choice
The wheel of history is rolling forward, the future is full of unknowns, how will the story of India and the "Belt and Road" be continued? Let's wait and see