India, China may get sea backyard access
China may allow India access to the western Pacific Ocean, while India may countenance Chinese presence in the Indian Ocean.
When Prime Minister Narendra Modi travels to China in a couple of weeks, the two Asian powers may sign an innocuous-sounding “scientific cooperation“ agreement.
In reality, it has deeper significance: First, an acknowledgement that India and China are the big powers in the ocean areas and secondly , an acceptance of the growing reach of the two countries in what is considered their strategic backyard.Few details about the proposed agreement are available, but sources said this could imply India-China cooperation at a different level. Any India-China document for cooperation in the oceans will be set up against the strategic vision document on Asia-Pacific and Indian Ocean region between the US and India signed during US President Barack Obama's visit. That agreement had compelled the rest of Asia to sit up and take note of the evolving US-India equation, largely because it set out an “acceptable“ code of conduct in the region.
India and China have already agreed to start a maritime cooperation dialogue, as set out in the joint statement when Chinese President Xi Jinping visited India in September. “The two sides decided to hold the first round of maritime cooperation dialogue within this year to exchange views on maritime affairs and security, including anti-piracy , freedom of navigation and cooperation between maritime agencies of both countries.“
The political dialogue between Modi and Xi will hold greater value. China watchers have predicted a possible breakthrough discussion on resolution of the boundary dispute that continues to be a thorn in bilateral relations.While a resolution may be ambitious at this stage, analysts agree an exchange of maps in the western sector would be a big step forward.
China may also conduct a feasibility study of a highspeed railway corridor between Delhi and Chennai.They will conduct a “pilot project“ for a certain part of the route, said sources.
Japan is in the final stages of conducting a feasibility study for a Shinkansen (bullet train) corridor between Mumbai and Ahmedabad, while France has agreed to study upgrade of railway link between Delhi and Chandigarh to a semi-high speed line. With the Modi government focused on reviving railways as an engine of growth, China, France and Japan will become big players.
