Strategic perspectives on China's South Asian connectivity.

Byline: Col R Hariharan

Introduction

China's presence in South Asia is now firmly established. Most of the South Asian countries including India are trying to take advantage of China's desire to increase its trade and economic relations with the subcontinent. China's readiness to invest and execute infrastructure projects speedily has generally been welcomed by South Asian countries to improve their poor infrastructure development.

China's economic prosperity has enabled it to emerge as the global leader not only in manufacturing but also in consumption of raw material. This has triggered China's appetite for energy and natural resources enormously, setting it on a global quest to meet its needs. And South Asia's natural resources are likely to be increasingly exploited to meet China's needs.

The global economic downturn four years ago has had its adverse impact on China's export based economy slowing down its double digit growth rate. China has taken a number of corrective measures including improving internal consumption and opening up new markets of Asia, Africa and South America. China is also increasing its trade and investment in these new markets. The modernisation of the PLA during the last two decades in tandem with its economic growth has increased China's confidence in its capability to protect the country's economic and strategic interests worldwide.

China's increasing strategic presence in South Asia has to be viewed in this global environment. China's moves would undoubtedly contribute to optimize the rapid growth of the vast underserviced South Asian markets while increasing the import of Chinese products. However, these developments would progressively reduce India's and Indian Ocean Region (IOR) with the progressive increase in China's strategic reach to the Indian Ocean littorals.

Strategic impact of leadership change these activities have increased ever since President Xi Jinping and Premier Le Keqiang came to power in March 2013. They are functioning under the guidelines set by the Chinese Communist Party (CCP) 18th national Congress held in November 2012. In accordance with these guidelines, Xi Jinping's development targets for China are:

- Strategic vision: "realizing a prosperous and strong country, the rejuvenation of the nation and the well-being of the people" (combining personal 'dreams' with national dream).

- Strategic goal - economy: Establish an 'affluent, strong, civilized, harmonious, socialist modern country' by 2050 around the year around the 100th anniversary of the CCP. In economic terms to achieve a GDP $ 4 trillion by 2020, and to provide per capita income of $ 3000.

- PLA: to make PLA a loyal force of the CCP command and provide reliable and professional support to protect China's core interests during the strategic development

Xi has set about clean up the public image of the CCP and the PLA launched the ongoing large scale anti-corruption drive to weed out and prosecute corrupt party bosses and army officers.

Xi is also paying special attention to bring the PLA's professional competence on par with the modern armies of the West. The modernisation of the PLA is focused on intense training for joint operation skills in a C3is networked system.

Increasing attention is being given to improve PLA Navy's fleet operation skills with the addition of an air craft carrier, and submarine and surface ships. Thus the Plan is emerging out of the South and East China seas to meet its aspirations to become blue water naval force by the next decade.

PLA's progress has enabled President Xi to assert China's power in support of its territorial claims in South and East China seas and India. This has caused concern not only among China's Asian neighbours, but also to the U. S. As it poses a direct threat challenge to the U. S. ' allies and poses a challenge to America's domination of the Asia-Pacific region.

The emergence of China as a major power has increased its profile in the international arena including the UN. The U. S. Has made extremely cautious in dealing with China. Countries like Japan, India, Korea, Vietnam and Russia, who have unpleasant historical experiences with China have also become equally cautious. China has tried to rework its strategic equation with the U. S., European Union, Japan, ASEAN region and India in keeping...