Challenge in Bihar
In the tumultuous arena of Bihar politics, where alliances shift like sand dunes in the wind, this election seems poised to redefine the political landscape.
In a move that has raised the hackles of the Indian establishment, China has proposed building an economic corridor with Myanmar on the lines of the China-Pakistan Economic Corridor (CPEC).
New Delhi has openly opposed CPEC as it passes through the Indian territory in Kashmir illegally occupied by Pakistan.
“We always keep a close eye on every development which can have a bearing on our national interests,’’ an Indian source said when his attention was drawn to the proposal for a China-Myanmar Economic Corridor (CMEC) mooted by Chinese Foreign Minister Wang Yi during his recent visit to Myanmar.
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China has been a long-standing friend of Myanmar and had shielded it from isolation by the West.
Lately, Beijing has intensified efforts to increase its footprints in Myanmar and solidly backed the country during the Rohingya refugee crisis. It even expressed its readiness to play the role of mediator between Myanmar and Bangladesh to resolve the refugee issue.
The CMEC proposal has come as a surprise to New Delhi since it runs parallel to the Bangladesh-China-India-Myanmar (BCIM) Corridor, even though this project is progressing at a snail’s pace thanks to the complex relationship between India and China.
The proposed new corridor between China and Myanmar will begin from China’s Yunnan Province, go south to the central Myanmar city of Mandalay and further extend east to Yangon and west to the Kyaakpyu especial economic zone.
Beijing claims the design would boost connectivity among large projects and ensure balanced development across Myanmar.
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