Experts Discuss China’s Big Plans in the Himalayan Region
Stockholm, Sweden, August 9: The Stockholm Centre for South Asian and Indo-Pacific Affairs (SCSA-IPA) recently hosted a webinar to discuss China’s strategic investments and influence in the Himalayan region. Scholars and experts from Europe, the US, and South Asia participated in the event.
Webinar Highlights
The webinar, titled ‘China’s Himalayan Hustle Part I: Can China Achieve Infrastructural Hegemony?’, was moderated by Dr. Jagannath Panda, Head of SCSA-IPA. The discussion focused on China’s economic investments, military involvement, and diplomatic strategies in the Himalayas.
Key Points Discussed
Dr. Panda emphasized the need for more discussions about China’s Himalayan strategy, noting a gap in Western and European discourse on the issue. The webinar addressed China’s current infrastructural development plans, the implications of the Belt and Road Initiative (BRI), and the country’s long-term goals in this geopolitically sensitive area.
Matej Simalcik, Executive Director of the Central European Institute of Asian Studies, linked China’s infrastructure projects in the Himalayas to the broader context of the Tibet issue and China’s border strategy. He highlighted the significance of these projects in influencing regional stability, especially in Nepal.
Jeffrey Payne, a professor at the Near East South Asia (NESA) Centre for Strategic Studies, compared China’s approach in the Himalayas to its actions in the South and East China Seas. He suggested that China’s tactics aim to assert control over disputed territories.
Thomas Eder, a senior researcher on China, emphasized China’s security partnerships with countries like Pakistan. He noted that China’s investments in Pakistan, particularly through the China-Pakistan Economic Corridor, are crucial in its competition with the U.S.
Antonina Luszczykiewicz-Mendis, a former Fulbright senior scholar, discussed India’s concerns regarding China’s infrastructure projects, especially those related to water sharing and transboundary rivers like the Brahmaputra.
Dr. Saroj Kumar Aryal, a researcher at the University of Warsaw, provided insights from Nepal’s perspective, highlighting the growing influence of China in Nepal’s internal politics and the challenges posed by China’s infrastructure projects near the India-Nepal border.
Conclusion
The webinar concluded with a call for greater cooperation between the West, India, and other regional players to counter China’s infrastructural ambitions in the Himalayas.
Doubts Revealed
Himalayan Region -: The Himalayan Region is a large mountain range in Asia that includes the highest peaks in the world, like Mount Everest. It stretches across five countries: India, Nepal, Bhutan, China, and Pakistan.
Webinar -: A webinar is an online meeting or presentation where people can discuss and share information through the internet. It’s like a seminar but done on the web.
Stockholm Centre for South Asian and Indo-Pacific Affairs -: This is a research center in Stockholm, Sweden, that studies important issues in South Asia and the Indo-Pacific region. They organize events and publish research to help people understand these areas better.
Dr. Jagannath Panda -: Dr. Jagannath Panda is an expert in international relations, especially focusing on Asia. He often moderates discussions and writes about strategic and security issues in the region.
Strategic investments -: Strategic investments are when a country or company puts money into projects that will help them achieve long-term goals, like gaining more influence or control in a region.
Diplomatic strategies -: Diplomatic strategies are plans and actions taken by a country to manage its relationships with other countries. This can include negotiations, treaties, and alliances.
South and East China Seas -: These are two large bodies of water near China. The South China Sea is south of China, and the East China Sea is east of China. Both are important for trade and have many islands that different countries claim.
Water sharing -: Water sharing is when countries agree on how to use and share rivers and lakes that flow through more than one country. This is important to make sure everyone has enough water for drinking, farming, and other needs.
