India Trying To Use Strategic Projects As Bargaining Chip: Chinese Think-Tank

"The Indian government led by Modi presented the Mausam project before Chinese President Xi Jinping's visit to India last September but the project lacked substantial content in economic cooperation.

"Now New Delhi is working on the idea of Cotton Route with the hope of deepening trade, economic and cultural ties with Indian Ocean nations," he said.

"New Delhi primarily attempted to counter China's 21st Century Maritime Silk Road with these plans.

"But India is fully aware that a lack of funds will prevent it from successfully engaging in deepening economic cooperation with its neighbours and its plans will in no way substitute for Beijing's Maritime Silk Road.

"Therefore, it's more likely to use them as bargaining chips."

The scholar pointed out that India wasn't included in the U.S.-led Trans-Pacific Strategic Economic Partnership and the Transatlantic Trade and Investment Partnership, "leaving the ambitious nation feeling marginalized on the world economic stage.

"Consequently, joining 'One Belt and One Road' constitutes a helpful alternative."

"There are signs that India expects to acquire a special position in the

'One Belt and One Road' project... Nevertheless, if it intends to gain an advantage through blackmailing, it will never receive moral support from the region."

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