Transport corridor tops Myanmar gen's agenda

The Time of India

NEW DELHI: The visit of Myanmar's second-in-command General Maung Aye to India, starting Wednesday, will be watched in more than one global capital with keen interest.

But after India facilitated the second visit of the UN's special envoy Ibrahim Gambari to Myanmar, it is now getting ready to significantly ramp up its presence in its eastern neighbour.

The much publicised multi-modal transport corridor that will link Myanmar to north-eastern India, bypassing Bangladesh, is finally ready for a formal launch and this is likely to be the high point of Gen Aye's visit.

The Cabinet recently approved Rs 535.91 crore for upgradation of Sittwe port and Kaladan river way. The rest will be spent on a road from Kalewa to Tamu on the Mizoram border.

"The project will provide an access to Mizoram and to other northeastern states as well as an outlet to the sea," a spokesperson said after the Cabinet meeting. The project will be executed by the Inland Waterways Authority of India.

The more important strategic point that India will make to the world is that it is not going to abandon Myanmar to the tender mercies of the Chinese. It's vitally important for India to protect this particular flank from the pervasive Chinese influence on India's periphery.

Just as in Tibet, where Han Chinese have been imposed on the local population, Indian strategists have, over the years, noticed with concern that Myanmar too is succumbing rapidly to the Han Chinese presence. "East of the river Irrawaddy is completely Chinese populated," said sources in the government.

India believes it's important that it provides a credible and rewarding alternative to the Myanmarese. Western concerns about Myanmar aside, India says it has much more important business with its eastern neighbour - in fact, a section of the government has even quietly proposed bringing Myanmar into SAARC, just like Afghanistan.

The official talks between the two sides will be dominated by issues of economic cooperation, energy security and connectivity.