• About Us
  • Careers
  • Brand Partnerships
TFI Official Merchandise
TFI English
TFI हिन्दी
Monday, January 30, 2023
TFIGlobal
TFIGlobal
Right Arm. Round the World. FAST.
No Result
View All Result
  • Premium
  • Indo-Pacific
  • Americas
  • Canada
  • Indian Subcontinent
  • West Asia
  • Europe
  • Africa
  • The Caribbean
  • Premium
  • Indo-Pacific
  • Americas
  • Canada
  • Indian Subcontinent
  • West Asia
  • Europe
  • Africa
  • The Caribbean
TFIGlobal
TFIGlobal
No Result
View All Result

India punctures a massive hole in China’s debt trap wall with a drill called Maldives

Akshay Narang by Akshay Narang
August 26, 2021
in Indian Subcontinent
Reading Time: 3 mins read
0
Maldives India China
1k
VIEWS
Share on FacebookShare on Twitter

You would have definitely heard about China’s big debt trap. It is a part of Chinese President Xi Jinping’s flagship Belt and Road Initiative (BRI), whereby the Communist nation pumps hefty loans with exorbitant interests into strategically located countries. Ultimately, when the recipient country fails to discharge Chinese debts, Beijing takes over control of strategic locations. 

In the Indian Ocean Region (IOR), Beijing is trying to encircle India with a ring of such debt traps around the country as a part of its “string of pearls” strategy. However, India has now managed to drill a huge hole in China’s debt trap well building around it with a massive project in the Maldives, an archipelago located in the IOR near India. This is India’s message to the world- development can be carried out without debt traps. 

Also Read

UAE backs Zambia’s Solar Dream

Is South-East Asia ready for the Chinese collapse?

India and Maldives are reportedly set to sign a contract on the mega Greater Male Connectivity project (GMCP). This is going to be the largest infrastructure project in the archipelago nation and is therefore going to beat China when it comes to enhancing its presence in the Maldives. 

India, Maldives sign LOC agreement of $400 mn for GMCP implementation | Jagran Josh

GCMP is an ambitious project and will consist of a 6.74 km long bridge and causeway link connecting Male, the capital of Maldives, with islands of Villingli, Gulhifalhu and Thilafushi. Unlike Chinese projects, which are funded by commercially exploitative loans, GCMP will be financed under a grant of $100 million and a line of credit of $400 million from India. 

GCMP is expected to become the lifeline of the Maldivian economy and it will create a major connectivity link joining the four main islands of the country where almost half of the archipelago nation’s population lives. 

GCMP is bound to hurt China’s presence in the Maldives. In fact, GCMP will completely undermine the 1.4 km long Sinamalé Bridge connecting Male with Hulhule’ and Hulhumalé. The Sinamalé Bridge was built in 2018 with Chinese support.

Moreover, India is deeply involved in several infrastructure projects in the Maldives, such as the expansion of an airport, expansion of fisheries plants and building a cricket stadium and road projects. New Delhi’s involvement in the Maldives is rather benevolent and India’s line of credit is being reportedly used in ten projects including a cancer hospital. 

India’s engagement with the Maldives practically dashes Beijing’s hopes of fanning anti-India sentiment in the archipelago nation. It seems that the Maldives understood how the paper Dragon burdened it with an unsustainable $3.4 billion debt. With a regime change in 2018 and the victory of a pro-India, anti-China leader, Male understood that it was a much more prudent move to befriend India at China’s expense. 

Enhancing presence and influence in the Maldives, and keeping China away from the archipelago nation is a part of New Delhi’s foreign strategy. Firstly, India considers the IOR its natural sphere of influence and secondly, China can weaponise any position of strength in India’s vicinity. For these two reasons, India is doing everything under its control to keep China at bay in the archipelago nation. 

In fact, New Delhi seems quite capable when it comes to sabotaging one of China’s debt traps and driving a big hole in the colossal network of China’s exploitative projects. 

What India has done in the Maldives is a lesson for the rest of the world. The world can develop without China’s debt traps. In fact, poor, underdeveloped and least developed countries must be protected from Beijing’s evil designs and should be given an opportunity of thriving in a friendly atmosphere. 

If a rising power like India can literally rescue a country from the big Chinese debt trap, then there is no reason why the US or European nations should not compete fiercely with China in order to restrict its debt trap projects. Contrary to what some pessimistic analysts have to say, China isn’t invincible. All you have you have do is offer a better deal as India did with the Maldives and the recipient country will come rushing away from Beijing. 

New Delhi is securing the IOR from China, however other powers like Japan, the US, Australia and the EU must join hands in order to keep China at bay in other parts of the world, particularly the Indo-Pacific.  

Tags: ChinaDebt-trap diplomacyIndiaIndian Ocean RegionMaldives
ShareTweetSend
Previous Post

Russia’s friend Tajikistan is firing up anti-Taliban forces and humiliating Pakistan while at it

Next Post

Israel will cut its economic agreements with China

Also Read

Jag Mandir Drone view

Jag Mandir Udaipur, Timings, Travel Guide, History and How to reach

January 22, 2023
Maa Daat Kali Mandir Entry gate

Daat Kali Mandir, History, Timings, Travel Guide and How to reach

January 22, 2023
Laxminarayan Temple Delhi Complex

Birla Mandir Delhi, Timings, History, Travel Guide and How to reach

January 22, 2023
Nepalganj road

Nepalganj Nepal, History, Travel Guide, and How to reach

January 17, 2023
Load More

Leave a Reply Cancel reply

Your email address will not be published. Required fields are marked *

I agree to the Terms of use and Privacy Policy.
This site is protected by reCAPTCHA and the Google Privacy Policy and Terms of Service apply.

  • Trending
  • Comments
  • Latest
Did Ukraine use innocent civilians as human shield against Russia in the name of evacuation?

Did Ukraine use innocent civilians as human shield against Russia in the name of evacuation?

May 9, 2022
Saudi Arabia Caribbean

Saudi Arabia expands its Caribbean foothold with an $80m gift

January 22, 2023
Cuba Ally

Cuba in Ukraine war is impossible! USA has gone bonkers in its desperation

January 24, 2023
World Economic Forum

“Sex, sleaze, and drugs” is what WEF is all about

January 18, 2023
Orwellian “Ministry of Truth” becomes a reality in Biden’s America

Orwellian “Ministry of Truth” becomes a reality in Biden’s America

April 28, 2022
Jamaica: The Best Hotspot for Pure Tropical Fun

Jamaica: The Best Hotspot for Pure Tropical Fun

January 29, 2023
All 13 Premiers of Canada give Trudeau a wakeup call

All 13 Premiers of Canada give Trudeau a wakeup call

January 29, 2023
Canada and Denmark threatened by Russia’s new move

Canada and Denmark threatened by Russia’s new move

January 29, 2023
Finland could now throw out Western Companies, so it decides to tax them instead

Finland could now throw out Western Companies, so it decides to tax them instead

January 29, 2023
Trudeau’s data manipulation skills leave Cuomo in the dust

Trudeau’s data manipulation skills leave Cuomo in the dust

January 29, 2023
Youtube Twitter Facebook
TFIGlobal
  • About us
  • Contact Us
  • Terms of use
  • Privacy Policy

©2023 - TFI MEDIA PRIVATE LIMITED

No Result
View All Result
  • Premium
  • Indo-Pacific
  • Americas
  • Canada
  • Indian Subcontinent
  • West Asia
  • Europe
  • Africa
  • The Caribbean

©2023 - TFI MEDIA PRIVATE LIMITED

Welcome Back!

Login to your account below

Forgotten Password?

Retrieve your password

Please enter your username or email address to reset your password.

Log In

Add New Playlist

Follow us on Twitter

and never miss an insightful take by the TFIGlobal team

Follow @tfiglobal
This website uses cookies. By continuing to use this website you are giving consent to cookies being used. View our Privacy and Cookie Policy.