India-Myanmar relations

WHY IN NEWS?

• Foreign Secretary Harsh Vardhan Shringla’s two-day visit to Myanmar, the first by a high-ranking Indian official since the coup in February, points to a subtle recalibration in India’s approach to Naypyidaw.
• India had kept a distance from the hardline position taken by the US and Europe that sought to censure and sanction the junta for ousting Aung San Suu Kyi and the National League for Democracy after they swept the parliament elections.

HISTORY:

• Pre-Independence period:
  • India has strong cultural affinities with Burma owing to the spread of Buddhism into the region during ancient times.
  • These affinities further grew during the colonial period as India and Myanmar together endured imperialism.
  • The British separated Burma Province from British India in 1937 and granted the colony a new constitution - ending 51 years of the country being ruled as a province of India.
  • Indian leaders also maintained close relations with it during the freedom struggle which was led by Aung San
• Post-independence:
  • India established diplomatic ties with Myanmar in 1948 after it gained independence
  • India and Myanmar signed a Treaty of Friendship in 1951.
  • A number of agreements enhancing bilateral cooperation have been signed between the two countries.
• Military coup in 1962
  • The ties however deteriorated after the overthrow of Democracy in Myanmar in 1962 as India condemned the military coup.
  • This was the period when Myanmar went into the Chinese fold.
  • The relations further worsened during late 1980s when Myanmar witnessed pro-democracy movements that were suppressed by the military junta causing a mass influx of Burmese refugees into India.
• Pragmatic foreign policy of 1990s
  • Myanmar ties however witnessed a turnaround during 1990s when India mooted the Look East Policy with Myanmar emerging as key to this foreign policy posture by India
  • Institutional mechanisms for facilitating regular dialogue on a range of issues of bilateral interest have also been established.
  • During 2002, the Indian Consulate General in Mandalay was re-opened and the Consulate General of Myanmar was set up in Kolkata
• Period of quasi-democracy in Myanmar:
  • In 2015 Aung San Suu Kyi’s National League for Democracy (NLD) was elected to power effectively ending the decades of military rule.
  • However military has firm grip over the government with 25% seat in legislature and separate military budget.
  • With an elected government in Myanmar, Indo- Myanmar relations improved further.
• Recent military coup:
  • Myanmar has been in turmoil since February, 2021 when the military seized control of the country in a coup and detained Aung San Suu Kyi and other leaders of her National League for Democracy (NLD).

WHY MYANMAR IMPORTANT TO INDIA?

• Border sharing:
  • India and Myanmar share a long land border of over 1600 km and a 725 km maritime boundary in the Bay of Bengal.
  • It is therefore in India’s interest to see Myanmar prevail as a stable and autonomous country.
• Geo-strategic location of Myanmar
  • Location of Myanmar makes its crucial for success of India’s ‘Act East’ policy as well as development of North East region
  • Being the only country that sits at the intersection of India’s “Neighborhood First” policy and its “Act East” policy, Myanmar is an essential element in India’s practice of regional diplomacy in the Indo-Pacific and serves as a land bridge to connect South Asia and Southeast Asia.
• Resource:
  • Shan plateau of Myanmar is abundant of petroleum and mineral resources
  • Indian companies have huge investment in energy sector. For ex: ONGC Videsh limited, GAIL etc.
• Critical for multilateral diplomacy:
  • Myanmar is the only ASEAN country that shares borders with India
  • Myanmar is a member of BIMSTEC and is a signatory to the BIMSTEC Free Trade Agreement.
  • Myanmar was given the status of observer in SAARC in 2008.
  • Myanmar has been a member of the Mekong Ganga Cooperation (MGC) since its inception
• Indian origin people
  • A large population of Indian origin (according to some estimates about 2.5 million) lives in Myanmar.
• Security of the region
  • Tackling insurgency:
    • Insurgence groups such as National Socialist Council of Nagaland-Khaplang (NSCN-K) are headquartered at Taga in Myanmar.
  • Fighting drug trade:
    • A vast area of Myanmar covers under Golden Triangle - the largest opium-producing region of the world.
• Commonalities:
  • Besides, geographical proximity, the two countries also share ethnic, religious and linguistic commonalities.
• Counterbalancing China
  • India needs to increase its presence in Myanmar so as to counter the growing Chinese dominance in the region

ISSUES IN RELATION

• Closeness to China
  • China developed Kyaukpyu port, which is intended to cement China’s geostrategic footprint in Rakhine.
  • China has funded naval facilities at Great Coco Islands
  • Ever since the coup on 2021 >> China’s economic grip over Myanmar has become tighter with a special focus on projects critical for the China-Myanmar Economic Corridor.
• Low bilateral trade:
  • Bilateral trade between the two countries remains far below potential.
  • A major reason for this is the movement of infrastructure projects at snail pace.
• Trade barriers
  • India imposed restrictions on the import of pulses in order to improve price realization for Indian farmers >> triggered similar restriction on part of Myanmar
• Porous Indo-Myanmar Border:
  • The 1643-km-long Indo-Myanmar border, which facilitates cross-border movement of militants, illegal arms and drugs, is extremely porous.
• Military coup
  • India expressed its deep concerns on recent development >> and stressed that gains made by Myanmar over the last decades on the path towards democracy should not be undermined.
  • Western countries imposed sanctions on Myanmar after military coup. These sanctions affected Indian investment in Myanmar. For example: Adani Ports and Special Economic Zone Ltd. could abandon Myanmar container terminal project >> as it is found to be in violation of sanctions imposed by the U.S
• Rohingyan refugee crisis
  • Rohingya people have faced decades of systematic discrimination, statelessness and targeted violence in Rakhine State, Myanmar >> such persecution has resulted refugee influx into neighbouring countries including Bangladesh and India.

COOPERATION

• Development Assistance:
  • Disaster relief
    • Example: Following the cataclysmic cyclone ‘Nargis’ which hit Myanmar in 2008, India responded immediately with relief materials and offers of assistance.
    • Example: India also provided assistance of USD 1 million for humanitarian relief and rehabilitation in the areas affected by the severe earthquake in Shan State in 2011.
  • Grants in Aid
    • India has committed USD 1.7 billion of aids and loans to Myanmar for infrastructure development which is inclusive of schools and health care centres.
  • Institution building
    • Examples: India-Myanmar industrial training centre, Sittwe general hospital
  • Assistance in infrastructure development
    • Example: construction and up-gradation of the Rhi-Tiddim Road
• Defence Cooperation
  • India also aids Myanmar for military modernization.
  • Myanmar has acquired rocket launchers, night vision systems, radar and engineering equipment from India.
  • In 2019, India and Myanmar signed a defence co-operation agreement, strengthening maritime security through joint surveillance and developing new infrastructure.
  • Bilateral military exercise
    • Ex: IMBEX
• Connectivity
  • IMT Highway
  • Kaladan Multi-Modal Project
  • Port infrastructure
    • Ex: As part of India’s SAGAR Vision, India developed the Sittwe port in Myanmar’s Rakhine state
  • Free Movement Regime (FMR) signed in 2017
    • Allows tribes living along the border to travel 16 km (9.9 mi) across either side of the border without visa restrictions.(14 days stay only)
• Cultural
  • As the land of Lord Buddha, India is a country of pilgrimage for the people of Myanmar
  • India led project for restoration of Ananda temple in Bagan
  • India donated Sarnath Style Buddha Statue
  • Representatives from Myanmar participates in various editions of ‘Samvad - inter-faith dialogue’ conducted by Vivekananda International Foundation.
• Power cooperation
  • Example: In 2008, the Myanmar’s Ministry of Electric Power and India’s NHPC signed an agreement for the development of the Tamanthi and Shwezaye Hydro-Electric Power project in Chindwin River valley.
• Economic cooperation
  • Bilateral Trade:
    • The bilateral trade stands at USD 2.2billion (2016-17).
    • Agriculture sector dominates the bilateral trade which comprises mostly of pulses and beans imports to India.
  • Investment
    • India is also the tenth largest investor in Myanmar.
    • India has substantial investments in Myanmar's oil and gas sector.
• Ethnic ties:
  • North East states of India have ethnic ties with Myanmar.
  • Ex: Mizo community in mizoram and kukis in Tripura has ties with Chins in Myanmar
• On Rohingyan issue:
  • India showed diplomatic fine balancing by abstaining from voting against Myanmar during the Bali declaration and also condemned the terrorist attacks in Rakhine district led by ARSA.

WAY FORWARD

• Improving connectivity
  • India should work for timely completion of connectivity projects such as IMT Highway
• Balanced approach:
  • While the West has made democracy the sole prism of its Myanmar policy, India cannot take a black-and-white approach to Myanmar.
  • Even as India continues to call for a restoration of the democratic process, both bilaterally and at various multilateral fora, New Delhi has to engage with the army in Myanmar to address Indian concerns as well as to make it a stakeholder that can deliver on the democratic front, including the release of political prisoners.
  • Marginalising the army will only push it into China’s arms, which only has its economic and defence interests to secure from Naypyidaw
• Tackling common security threats
  • Joint operation for counter insurgency
  • Intelligence sharing agreement
• Adopt Gujral doctrine in improving relation
  • Gujral Doctrine is a set of five principles to guide the conduct of foreign relations with India’s immediate neighbours.
  • These principles are:
    • With neighbours, India does not ask for reciprocity but gives and accommodates what it can in good faith and trust.
    • No South Asian country should allow its territory to be used against the interest of another country of the region.
    • No country should interfere in the internal affairs of another.
    • All South Asian countries must respect each other’s territorial integrity and sovereignty.
    • They should settle all their disputes through peaceful bilateral negotiations.
• Cultural Diplomacy:
  • India’s cultural diplomacy through the lens of Buddhism can be leveraged for strengthening its ties with Myanmar.
  • India’s “Buddhist Circuit” initiative, which seeks to double foreign tourist arrivals by connecting ancient Buddhist heritage sites across different states in India, should resonate with Buddhist-majority Myanmar.
• Resolving Rohingyas Issue:
  • The quicker the Rohingya issue is resolved, the easier it will be for India to manage its relations with Myanmar and Bangladesh, focusing instead more on bilateral and subregional economic cooperation.

CONCLUSION

• India shares many common concerns with Myanmar that range from socio-economic development, similar ecological and climatic concerns, shared concerns over insurgency and regional peace and preserving sovereignty in light of growing Chinese assertiveness. These offer tremendous scope for cooperation.
• India needs to seize this opportunity and expedite the work on ongoing projects while at the same time exercising soft power through constructive aid and cultural exchange.

PRACTICE QUESTION:

Q.‘While the western countries has made democracy the sole prism of its Myanmar policy, India doesn’t have that luxury’. Discuss.