- Why in news?
Recently, the goods from Singapore reached Yangon Port(in Myanmar) through Shipping by following way from Andaman sea of the Northwestern Indian Ocean . Yangon to the Lincang (border city in the Southwest of Yunnan province) by Road Transport then Lincang to Chengdu(capital of Southwest China’s Sichuan province , is the third biggest luxurious city in China after Shanghai and Beijing) by Railways . Hence followed Sea-Road-Rail Route.
What exactly is China-Myanmar Sea -Road -Rail Route ?
- Singapore -> Yangon goods went via (Ship) , Yangon -> Lincang (Road) , Lincang -> Chengdu (Rail) transport and in this way China reduced the transport journey of 20 to 25 days in one third time and in this way reduce its dependency on the route of Strait of Malacca.
- It connects the logistics line of Singapore, Myanmar and China and is the significant sea and land route to link Indian Ocean with Southwest China.
- It will be new channel for Southwest China, to enter the Atlantic Ocean via the Indian Ocean and to directly engage in the International trade and logistics.
What is China’s Economic Growth Strategy?
- China’s two -Ocean Strategy (Pacific and Indian Ocean)aims to redistribute the power in the Indo- Pacific reign in its favor by expanding its naval operations from South China Sea and Western Pacific into the Indian Ocean.
- China extend its Railways system with Indonesia ,Vietnam and many more. Indonesia – China has 150 km high speed Railway Connectivity, Vietnam – China has 195 km Dual Gauge line.
- Gwadar port in Pakistan is the direct trade route to the Indian Ocean to China via China –Pakistan Economic Corridor .
- Kyaukphyu port in Myanmar under China- Myanmar Economic Corridor ,will going to be next port in Myanmar by China, which will going to make China’s grip strong in the Indian Ocean via Myanmar under Belt and Road Initiative. This trade route is also known as China’s alternative to the Malacca Dilemma.
- China is also planning to make China-Nepal Economic Corridor which will link Tibet to Nepal.
- Also China started first bullet train from Tibet 200km Lhasa to Chengdu and that train is passing nearby from the reign Arunachal Pradesh.
- Through String of Pearl strategy, China have made port in Bangladesh (Chittagong port) , Myanmar( kyaukphyu port), Sri Lanka( Hambantota port 99 years lease, Pakistan( Gwadar port).
What India Need To Do?
- India has proposed Sittwe port in Myanmar and wants to connect Mizoram to Myanmar through Kaladan river under kaladan Multimodel Project.
- Myanmar is important as it plays important role in India’s two policy- Neighborhood First Policy and Act East Policy. In Neighborhood First policy , India focuses on countries like Myanmar, Bangladesh, Nepal etc. and try to improve our ties with this nations. In Act East policy, India focuses on South East Asian countries like Thailand, Vietnam etc. So, in implementation of these both policies Myanmar plays important role.
- India need to maintain strong projects in sensitive zones like China may be target Bangladesh next and try to connect it with Nepal and Tibet may be via air route and in this context may be control our Chicken Neck (in between Bangladesh and Nepal Siliguri Corridor). To counter China ,India need to unite regional powers together, and in regional power Japan ,Australia, U.S.A( quad nations) and reduce India’s dependency on china.
Sources:
- Wikipedia,
- The Hindu,
- Hindustan Times,
- The Irrawaddy
Date: 12 Sept,2021.