About a small Mauritian island

About a small Mauritian island

Article:

1. Political scientist Francois Verges and historian Vijay Prasad observes India’ s changing commitment to secure Indian ocean as a zone of peace

Important facts:

2. Recently, a group of Mauritians island along with few formed the Islanders Coalition for Peace which calls for declaration of Indian Ocean as a zone of peace
3. The concept of the zone of peace originated during the Non-Align Movement Summit in 1970.
4. The Declaration of the Indian Ocean as a Zone of Peace was adopted by UN General Assembly in 1971
5. Designating Indian Ocean as Zone of Peace meant halting any expansion of military base, presence by great powers in the Indian Ocean region
6. This acme in the backdrop of USA building major naval base on Diego Garcia islands which later became significant in the Vietnam War
7. The declaration of zone of peace was much opposed by USA and France.
8. Post Djibouti’s independence from France, La Reunion Island became a naval base for France
9. In 2014, erstwhile Naval Security Adviser Ajit Doval also propagated the idea of Indian Ocean as zone of peace following Chinese interventions in the region.
10. However, increasing Chinese presence and the the growing interests of other major powers (U.S., U.K., Russia, France and Japan) in the region, and the many Chinese infrastructure projects in Indian Ocean Region has brought change in India’s commitment towards  a zone of peace
11. China has a string of pearls of policy- It has built significant ties. Examples- Gawdar (Pakistan), Hambanota in (Sri Lanka), Kyaukpku (Mayanmar).
12. This has given India an imperative to develop agreements with Australia (Cocos Island), France (La Reunion) and USA
13. India’s nuclear armed ballistic missile submarine -Arihant will soon play in Indian Ocean.
14. India’s agreement with Mauritius on setting up base in Agalegla island is extension of this plan
15. India- Mauritius:

• Mauritius is the largest route for FDI in India- This is because multinational corporations take advantage of India-Mauritius Double Taxation Avoidance Treaty and the lax tax regime to avoid paying taxes.
• However, Mauritius has signed an amendment treaty and by 2019 it will lose its status of being the largest route for FDI in India
• In 2015, India and Mauritius signed an agreement that allows India to develop infrastructure on the islands

16. Author advised India to move back to its commitment to make Indian Ocean as Zone of Peace.