China’s maritime economic initiative, the 21st Century Maritime Silk Road (MSR) that is part of the larger One Belt One Road (OBOR), has been under considerable international focus recently. India, for its part, has remained non-committal despite China’s charmed offensive. However, with the signing of the Trans-Pacific Partnership and the proposed Transatlantic Trade and Investment Partnership, both of which exclude the growing economies of India and China, it is necessary to ensure the success of MSR and a complete re-thinking on the issue has become the imperative. For India, it is necessary to link the recently revived Sagarmala project and MSR for a symbiotic relationship in which funding for modernisation of select Indian ports and enhanced connectivity between trading hubs of the MSR can both be achieved.

• International Affairs
• China
• India

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