China and South Asia: Changing Regional Dynamics, Development and Power Play

Description

This book looks at the changing dynamics and regional power play between China and South Asia. It explores crucial issues such as China–Pakistan Economic Corridor and the changing nature of China–India relations; China’s trident approach in South Asia and its rising influence in the region; the responses of small states to rising China; China’s twenty-first-century Belt and Road Initiative; China and India; China’s rise and the USA’s security policy vis-à-vis India; the Shanghai Cooperation Organization and regional security; and Russia’s ‘Pivot to the East’ and its impact on the Asia-Pacific region. The volume brings together the views of scholars from China, South Asia and beyond on different aspects of China and South Asia engagement, including regional politics, connectivity, infrastructure and development projects, power politics, economy, ideology and culture. The chapters offer insights into trends and challenges within China’s economic and security environment as impacted by globalization, regional interests and the demands of cooperation. They present critical, comprehensive and expert analyses of China’s engagement with South Asia by covering historical, sociological, political, cultural, economic and strategic factors while including perspectives from individual countries. This volume will be useful to scholars and researchers of Chinese studies, politics and international relations, South Asian studies, foreign policy, diplomacy, security and strategic studies and political studies, as well as to those in media, policymakers, bureaucrats, diplomats and think tanks. Cover Endorsement Page Half Title Series Page Title Page Copyright Page Dedication Table of Contents List of figures List of tables List of abbreviations Foreword Acknowledgements List of contributors Chapter 1: Introduction: China and South Asia in the twenty-first century China’s neighbourhood diplomacy and South Asia policy Scholarly debates on China’s South Asian policy Themes and perspectives Changing dynamics and power play References Part I: Politics and strategy Chapter 2: CPEC and changing dynamics of China–India relations Contextualising Indo-Pakistani rivalry Is the CPEC fueling territorial disputes and igniting sovereignty issues? Containment reincarnated: changing dynamics of Indo-US relations CPEC pragmatists Changing dynamics: India–China relations and CPEC Conclusion Appendix Notes References Chapter 3: China’s Trishula approach in South Asia: Challenges to balancing the end game Trishula 2 approach Local integration National perspective Regional approach Contentious directions and critical issues Balancing the end game Conclusion Notes References Chapter 4: Coping with rising China: Responses of the small states of South Asia Small states’ alignment choices Bangladesh’s China policy Sri Lanka’s China policy The Maldives’ China policy Conclusion References Chapter 5: Cooperation and competition in China–India relations: A quantitative analysis of academic debates Relative concepts ‘Conflict’ and ‘competition’ ‘Traditional security’ and ‘non-traditional security’ Analytic method, samples and statistical analysis technique Comparison between Chinese and foreign research Similarities in research perspective Differences in research perspective Cooperation or competition Consensus: coexistence of cooperation and competition Divergence: the mainstream of Sino-Indian relations Fields of cooperation and competition Consensus: cooperation in non-traditional security Consensus: cooperation and competition in the field of geopolitics Measures to promote cooperation Consensus: three core issues Divergence: issue of economic and trade frictions Divergence: measures to further promote cooperation Conclusion References Chapter 6: Security environment in South Asia: The role of the Shanghai Cooperation Organisation (SCO) Regional security and expansion of SCO Outcome of the SCO summit 2016 SCO can bring India and Pakistan together SCO and regional connectivity Summit meeting in Bishkek on 13–14 June 2019 Challenges to SCO Conclusion References Part II: Belt and Road Initiative Chapter 7: China’s Twenty-First-Century Maritime Silk Road and its Influence on the Development of South Asia India and South Asia MSRI and South Asia: Development and Geopolitics The ‘String of Pearls strategy’: The Indian Worry Conclusion Note References Chapter 8: The Belt and Road Initiative: The changing dynamics of development in South Asia The peaceful rise of China The promises of the BRI BRI and the trajectory of development in South Asia Geopolitics of the BRI Exploring the win-win around the BRI Conclusion Notes References Chapter 9: The Belt and Road Initiative: Chinese normative power in South Asia Relational and normative power Relational power Low fungibility of power resources Normative power The BRI and power theory Origins and motives of the Belt and Road Initiative Belt and Road and power The BRI and normative power South Asia and Chinese norms Area of analysis What kind of technical standards Institutional framework General documents and South Asia Bilateral documents Conclusion Notes References Chapter 10: Bangladesh–China maritime security cooperation: A search for new opportunities under the Belt and Road Initiative Conceptual and theoretical frameworks Maritime security The Belt and Road Initiative (BRI) ‘Top-down’ and ‘Bottom-up’ approaches to the international order at sea Significance of maritime security for Bangladesh in the twenty-first century Geostrategic significance Geo-economic significance Maritime security threats for Bangladesh Traditional security threats Non-traditional security threats Transnational terrorism Maritime piracy Arms and drug smuggling Human trafficking Natural disasters Bangladesh’s maritime security cooperation with China under BRI China as a strategic security partner for Bangladesh Modernisation of Bangladesh Navy and Coast Guard China’s cooperation to mitigate non-traditional security threats in the bay Theoretical implications Implications of top-down and bottom-up approaches Implications of the Belt and Road Initiative Conclusion References Part III: Ideology, media and culture Chapter 11: The impact of the Sino-Soviet split on the politics of the left in Pakistan Formation of the National Awami Party (NAP) The Sino-Soviet split and its effects on the NAP Conclusion References Chapter 12: Image of China in the Afghan media Afghan-Sino relations The Media and Afghanistan China in Afghan media Why is this the case? Conclusion References Chapter 13: China–India cooperation in the cultural industry in the twenty-first century Overview of Chinese culture and its cultural industry Overview of Indian culture and its cultural industry The current situation of cultural exchanges and cultural industry cooperation between China and India Positive factors that facilitate China–India cooperation in the cultural industries The negative factors for developing bilateral cultural industry cooperation Measures of improving bilateral cooperation between China and India in cultural fields Conclusion References Chapter 14: Development of cultural ecotourism in Gilgit-Baltistan: Opportunities and challenges in the wake of the CPEC Geographical and strategic importance of Gilgit-Baltistan Ecotourism Foreign tourism Prospects for ecotourism in Gilgit-Baltistan Positive impacts of ecotourism Eco–cultural tourism Avenues for eco-adventure tourism in GB Archeological heritage China–Pakistan economic corridor (CPEC) CPEC and the tourism sector Key challenges for ecotourism development Flawed management Skewed policy paradigm Financial impediments Dilapidated infrastructure Security predicament Threat to cultural and archaeological heritage Complex regulatory/legislative framework Inadequacies of human resources Lack of baseline studies Unstructured marketing strategy Conclusion References Part IV: Great power politics Chapter 15: Anticipating the China challenge: China’s rise and the United States’ security policy vis-à-vis India Thucydides trap? China and India in US lexicon US overtures for a ‘natural balancer’ Conclusion References Chapter 16: China’s Belt and Road Initiative and the Indian Ocean balance Shifting strategic coordinates in IOR BRI and IOR balance Regional responses from India Conclusion References Chapter 17: Russia’s ‘pivot to the East’ and its impact on the Asia-Pacific region and South Asia Economic prerequisites of the Russian ‘pivot to the East’ Chinese-Russian relations as a driver of the Russian ‘pivot to the East’ Integration in Eurasia and the APR Diplomatic contacts and regional security Modernisation of the Russian Far East Conclusion References Index