The article attempts to explain India’s contrasting strategic choices with regard to China-led initiatives in South Asia. While India chose to join the AIIB, it has opposed the BRI. While the India–China relationship has been defined by the security dilemma for long, China’s involvement in the region makes the security dimension even more salient. More so, because infrastructure connectivity projects change the existing relations of power and influence.
Jagannath P. Panda replies:Operationally, both the AIIB and the New Development Bank (NDB) of the BRICS differ from each other in their structure and functionality. Both are yet to evolve as credible international banks. Their membership composition, areas of focus, structures, and operational and financing patterns make them different from each other.
AIIB is a Chinese dominated bank and the Chinese excitement about AIIB is based on the control and strategic clout that Beijing, the bank’s main architect, wields over its functioning.
