The Mekong-Lancang Cooperation (MLC) is a significant Chinese-led initiative that involves nations from the Mekong Delta region. The cooperative grouping has critical implications due to an increasing number of hydroelectric projects which are causing changes to the flow of the river, thereby raising concerns about potential ecological damage.
China has built 10 dams along the upper stretch of the Mekong, known as Lancang in China. This has garnered criticism due to impacts on water levels and the downstream fisheries, which are pivotal to the economies of several Southeast Asian nations.
Myanmar’s Military Coup and Its Repercussions
In Myanmar’s November 2020 parliamentary elections, Suu Kyi’s National League for Democracy (NLD) won the majority of seats. Despite this, the military holds 25% of the total seats under the 2008 military-drafted constitution and several key ministerial positions. Anxiety arose when the military imposed a state of emergency for one year just as newly elected lawmakers were slated to hold the first session of parliament in 2021. This abrupt move was justified by the military citing vast voting fraud in the parliamentary elections.
India, which supports democratic transitions in Myanmar, expressed deep concern over these developments. However, severing ties with the Myanmar military is not plausible due to India’s considerable economic and strategic interests in Myanmar and its vicinity.
India-Myanmar Relations: An Overview
Myanmar, located at the nexus of Indian and Southeast Asian geography, is of significant geopolitical importance to India. The only Southeast Asian nation sharing a land border with northeastern India, Myanmar plays a crucial role in India’s “Neighborhood First” and “Act East” policies. Among various collaborative projects, India has developed the Sittwe port in Myanmar’s Rakhine state as an answer to China’s Kyaukpyu port, underscoring the strategic competition between India and China in the region.
Myanmar’s Role in International Groupings
Myanmar enjoys a significant presence in international groupings such as ASEAN, BIMSTEC, Mekong Ganga Cooperation, and SAARC. As the only ASEAN country sharing a land border with India, Myanmar acts as a bridge between India and ASEAN. It is also a member of the South Asian Association for Regional Cooperation (SAARC) and the Bay of Bengal Initiative for Multi-Sectoral Technical and Economic Cooperation, further enhancing its regional importance.
India’s Concern about Growing China-Myanmar Ties
The growing political and economic ties between China and Myanmar are a matter of concern for India due to its shared 1600 km boundary with Myanmar. The increasing Chinese influence in Myanmar, especially through projects crucial for the China-Myanmar Economic Corridor, is quite worrying for India from a strategic perspective.
India’s Approach Moving Forward
To strengthen its ties with Myanmar, India can tap into cultural diplomacy, focusing on shared Buddhist heritage. India’s “Buddhist Circuit” initiative could resonate with Buddhist-majority Myanmar and build diplomatic goodwill. Resolving the Rohingya issue would also facilitate better management of relations with Myanmar and Bangladesh, enabling India to focus more on bilateral and subregional economic cooperation. India should also continue engaging with the current regime in Myanmar while supporting constitutionalism and federalism initiatives to help resolve the impasse in Myanmar.
Understanding Mekong-Ganga Cooperation
The Mekong-Ganga Cooperation (MGC) is an initiative by India and five ASEAN countries – Cambodia, Laos, Myanmar, Thailand, and Vietnam. This collaboration focuses on tourism, education, culture, transportation, and communication. As civilizational rivers, the Ganga and Mekong allow the MGC initiative to foster closer contact among people living in these two significant river basins, highlighting the historical cultural and commercial linkages between the member countries.