The Making of One Belt, One Road and Dilemmas in South Asia

Abstract

China's One Belt, One Road (OBOR) initiative has attracted worldwide attention, and a solid foundation for the initiative has been laid at home and in the neighbouring regions of Southeast Asia. While many countries may not have imagined the possibility of reviving the Silk Route, China has not only coined the term OBOR but also taken steps to bring it close to reality. Despite the various challenges posed by the initiative to their national strategies and to the regional security order, developing countries along the OBOR have an opportunity to improve connectivity and transform their economic conditions by exploring complementarities through trade, investment and greater people-to-people exchanges. From the South Asian point of view, OBOR presents multiple opportunities as well as dilemmas. The puzzles need to be addressed to shape the connectivity agenda of the region and to harness the benefits of integration, which may require joint development and sharing of responsibility among economically stronger countries. Greater cooperation among South Asian countries will be critical in shaping the connectivity agenda, through OBOR or otherwise, in the South Asian region.