The Belt and Road Initiative was all over the news a couple of years back. It seemed to be the only game in town. It was touted to be the instrument that will propel China to superpower status. However as time passed, the concept got into problems in the execution phase. The term debt trap is now almost synonymous with the BRI. In any case the principle of debt trapping came to light through BRI deals going sour. Naturally, the Chinese have caught flak due to their usurious financial deals. Amidst all this the corona struck and paralysed progress on BRI projects for a variety of reasons. Today, BRI hardly finds mention in a newspaper in any significant manner. Most of the projects are languishing despite all the propaganda of its success by China. Some are cancelled, many are scaled down and many countries want to renegotiate terms with China. In this episode, Aadi and I discuss various aspects pertaining to the BRI.
‘Sir, will China invade us?’ ‘We hear China has increased activities on the border’. Chinese consolidation activities on the LAC have prompted such reactions and fears. Lot of such inquiries from citizens within and outside India. Why? Bodies floating down Ganga, mass graves, lack of oxygen, medicines or hospital beds, botched vaccination program, uninterrupted work on Central Vista - all these have eroded our political capital immensely and seeded such doubts. Our national institutions are being compared to ‘rottweilers’ in the media. Economy? Unemployment figures and stock markets – both rattling up. Strangest combination. Rich getting richer and poor getting poorer. An ominous divergence which bodes ill. Leadership? Kis Chidiya ka naam hai bhai? National level paralysis in responding to the second wave. Erosion in comprehensive national power. Many have never experienced India being so weak. Nor did I for that matter. This frightening experience ...
Interesting discussion Sir, gives me idea to ruminate on how useful have been our own mega industrial projects for the local people, especially in the tribal belt.
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