Context:
China is prioritising the extension of the China-Myanmar Economic Corridor (CMEC) to Sri Lanka.
About CMEC:
- Newest of the 6 land corridors under the Belt and Road Initiative (BRI).
- Initially part of ambitious ‘Bangladesh China India Myanmar (BCIM) corridor’ proposed in 2013
- BCIM – To link Kunming in China’s Yunnan province with Kolkata has been largely stalled as of now.
- 3 pillars of the CMEC –
- Kyaukpyu Special Economic Zone
- China-Myanmar Border Economic Cooperation Zone
- New Yangon City
- Significance –
- China will be able to shift its manufacturing to its south-western provinces to avoid the middle-income trap.
- Provides shorter routes to markets in South Asia, East Africa, West Asia, and Europe.
- Opens the Myanmar market to all Chinese goods and services
- Allows China to import raw materials from Myanmar and beyond.
- Impact on India – It will reinforce and strengthen the string of pearls strategy of China.
- CPEC, CMEC and the CNEC signify the economic as well as strategic rise of China in the Indian subcontinent.
India and Bhutan are the only countries in South Asia that have stayed out of the BRI.
Project South Asia under the BRI project:
- China-Myanmar Economic Corridor (CMEC)
- Nepal-China Trans-Himalayan Multi-Dimensional Connectivity Network (CNEC)
- China Pakistan Economic Corridor (CPEC)
Also Read: India-Middle East-Europe Economic Corridor
Source: The Hindu
Previous Year Question
With reference to India’s projects on connectivity, consider the following statements:
1. East-West Corridor under Golden Quadrilateral Project connects Dibrugarh and Surat.
2. The Trilateral Highway connects Moreh in Manipur and Chiang Mai in Thailand via Myanmar.
3. Bangladesh-China-India-Myanmar Economic Corridor connects Varanasi in Uttar Pradesh with Kunming in China.
How many of the above statements are correct?
[UPSC Civil Services Exam – 2023 Prelims]
(a) Only one
(b) Only two
(c) All three
(d) None
Answer: (d)
Explanation:
Golden Quadrilateral Project network connects Srinagar in the north to Kanyakumari in the south, and Silchar in the east to Porbandar in the west. Trilateral Highway connects Moreh in Manipur and Mae Sot in Thailand via Myanmar. Bangladesh-China-India-Myanmar Economic Corridor connects Kolkata with Kunming in China. Hence, all the statements are not correct.
