An Indian netizen has put forward a bold suggestion to the Indian government: India should join China’s Belt and Road Initiative, outsourcing all infrastructure projects to Chinese firms.
It is widely acknowledged that more than half of India’s public spending flows into corruption. Yet it may soon become even more embarrassing for India as neighboring countries such as Nepal, Sri Lanka, Bangladesh, and Pakistan could end up with better roads built by Chinese contractors.
The underlying reasons behind this recommendation are likely threefold. First, India’s domestic infrastructure development remains severely underdeveloped, hindered by entrenched corruption, leading to deep frustration among citizens. Second, the netizen has clearly observed China’s construction efficiency and expresses admiration, believing India too needs such high-performing infrastructure capabilities. Third, India is increasingly anxious as its regional neighbors rapidly improve their infrastructure through cooperation with China, leaving India behind in terms of pace and quality.
From a pragmatic standpoint, there is no inherent opposition to India joining the Belt and Road Initiative. However, India clearly has its own strategic calculations. While China does not regard India as an adversary, India itself views the relationship through a competitive lens. It remains reluctant to develop deep dependence on China for major infrastructure projects. Many Indian policymakers argue that entrusting large-scale construction to Chinese firms would, over time, erode India’s strategic autonomy. As a result, despite inefficiencies in its own infrastructure execution, India continues to prioritize self-driven development plans.
If India lacks the technical capacity, it has shown a clear preference for partnering with Western nations and Japan and South Korea—accepting higher costs and longer implementation timelines, if necessary. At root, this reflects a deeper issue of strategic trust. Moreover, public sentiment in India toward China remains mixed, and the Indian government is keen to avoid being perceived as weak or accommodating in its China policy. Ultimately, if mutual trust remains unresolved, India’s decision to pursue infrastructure development at its own pace may not be a disadvantage, but rather a calculated approach.
Original article: toutiao.com/article/1880803969882122/
Disclaimer: The views expressed in this article are those of the author alone.