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Between the Elephant and the Dragon
India China; India- Iran
News:
1.Harsh V. Pant, professor of International relations at King’s college london, observe that both India and China should cooperate on Iran’s Chabahar Port.
Important Facts:
- After the US decision to withdraw from Iran nuclear deal, It is important for Iran to engage all the major powers.
- Both India and china has lots of stake in Iran.
- Iran’s attempt to woo chinese investment in chabahar, often projected as India’s pet project (and a response to Gwadar in Pakistan), has raised eyebrow in New Delhi. Inviting Chinese investment is perceived as an attempt to dilute Indian influence.
- Chabahar for Iran means pure business.It even invited Pakistan for the inaugural ceremony.Post Sanctions, in a quest for multilateralism, Iran is trying to woo various countries to invest in the Chabahar Port.
- Iran-China Ties:
- China never severed its ties with Iran, even during the sanctions era.
- Post Sanctions, Chinese President was the first head of State to visit Iran.
- China played a crucial role in the nuclear deal by bringing all the countries to the negotiating table.
- Iran is trying to woo Chinese investments in Chabahar
- With US showing hostility towards Iran, it needs to maintain good relations with a rising power like China.
- China has emerged as Iran’s largest trading partner over the years.
- China is the largest importer of Iranian oil.
- Iran is crucial to China’s BRI due it geographic location as a bridge between Persian Gulf and Central Asia.
- Investments in Iran would give China control over 2 of the 3 major routes to world markets.
- For Iran, BRI would help in making it an inevitable transit hub for countries like China, India and Russia.
- China as a UNSC Permanent member and its veto power would be a great asset to Iran.
- Reason for india to collaborate with China
- India should not focus exclusively upon the growing influence of China in Iran.
- Iran’s reliance on China will only grow after US withdrawal from the nuclear pact.
- In all its ties, India should try to make economics and politics complement each other.
- India has to capitalize on all its existing ties. For example, in Japan, India should offer favourable terms of trade in the region vis-a-vis China.
- Frequent Joint Naval exercises should be held in the Persian Gulf
- India and China can jointly invest in Iran as they are planning to do in Afghanistan.
