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Tribune News Service
New Delhi, July 28
While not much has been heard of India's SAARC Covid initiative since Prime Minister Narendra Modi launched it four months ago, Chinese inroads on the pretext of a "health silk road" can lead to further consolidation of its One Belt One Road (OBOR) initiative around India's outer peripheries.
SAARC Covid Fund with seed money of about Rs 1,500 crore was meant to put neighbourhood diplomacy back on the rails. The Centre had given up on SAARC five years ago because of Pakistan's presence and started showcasing the BIMSTEC combination instead.
However, while India focused on bilateral Covid aid with a few select neighbours, China has kick-started a "health silk road" that began with the ASEAN members and moved on to Central Asia. In both these regions, China has major plans for the OBOR.
The 'health silk road' endeavour touched SAARC on Monday at a videoconference of foreign ministers of Afghanistan, China, Nepal and Pakistan. However, Beijing did not include half of SAARC, including Sri Lanka, India, Bangladesh and Maldives.
The joint statement indicated China's subsidiary intentions behind including some SAARC countries that are not contiguous and leaving out others was linked to OBOR.
The Chinese railway line from Shigatse to Kathmandu is making progress. The Indian hesitation in taking up the construction of a rail line from Iran to Afghanistan is in contrast with Beijing's multi-billion dollar plan with Iran that may now be expanded to connect Afghanistan.
The Chinese embassy here has indicated that the US has been the instigator in its troubles with India. Chinese embassy spokesperson Ji Rong accused the US of seeking "containment, and ideological confrontation" with China.
However, China continues to remain minatory on the issue of India banning 59 apps on grounds of data transfer and privacy violations.
After India began narrowing the scope for Chinese products in government purchases, Beijing has repeatedly signaled it would be forced to take necessary steps. It may mean China pushing for closer ties with Nepal and Afghanistan where India has security stakes.
US behind trouble with India: Beijing
The Chinese embassy has said the US has been the instigator in its troubles with India. It accused the US of seeking "containment, and ideological confrontation'' with China while India adheres to strategic independence.
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