The Indian Ocean does not need an Indian Cold War
By Trevor Jayetileke
A Cold War in the Indian Ocean will not be in the best interests of any country in the Indian Ocean and this applies to India as well and will certainly derail its own plans for a “India Made” revival. Spending time on a reckless exercise might turn counter productive and even fragment India. China with a well planned program of the BRI will certainly not contest a Cold War which is now irrelevant as the ‘Asian Pivot’ (Hambantota Port ) in the Indian Ocean is in Chinese hands for the next 99 years.
The Indian Ocean is no threat to the Energy Security of India which imports all its Crude oil requirements that come mainly from the Middle East unlike China which has a ‘Choke Point” in the straits of Malacca which is its main concern of its Energy Security. With a GDP of US$12 Trillion per annum China is only second to the US with about US$15 Trillion per annum. India on the other hand is now the 5th biggest economy of the World with a rapidly increasing Population and with an annual GDP much less than that of Japan and Germany. India has a leading edge in IT which drives the rapidly changing Technology of the new World order., and India has to be proud of this strength which is the elixir helping its economic prosperity and lifting millions out of Poverty.
Even after 70 years of Independence India had lost its aspiration because of the unresolved baggage of the previous century such as Kashmir and worries over border disputes mainly with China/Pakistan which has a negative traction on its forward march as a Human Juggernaut. Information Technology penetrates every part of the World and makes physical borders non-existent and should serve as the tool to change the Indian Mindset that is holding back the drive to achieve success. India has failed to identify what it had lost which was its main confidence booster.
As our closest neighbour we wish India could overcome these shortcomings and emerge as a economic power in the Indian Ocean by corporation and not by confrontation with China that has very little to lose from a Cold War in the Indian Ocean and India using it as a last straw to contain China. The entire Asia Pacific family has to grow together and India does not have to be the Elephant in the Room., but instead a Complimentary partner with China to attain Higher Goals.
At this juncture India has to emulate the teachings of Swami Vivekananda who professed Universal Humanity and believed in many opinions and many paths. He was not confined to a Fixated Mindset. Indian Leadership has to Transcend to free itself from the Colonial vestiges and re-claim its Ko-Hi-Noor DIAMOND which will be its “Feel Good Factor” at this point in time right now.
(Trevor Jayetileke is an Energy Consultant/Petroleum Analyst, and Freelance Writer. Contactable on e-mail asgjaye@gmail.com)
