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5 April 2016

Will India be able to outwit China in Iran?

By Radhakrishna Rao
02 Apr , 2016

With the Islamic Republic of Iran coming out of long standing global isolation in the aftermath of the lifting of sanction early this year, there is a sort of gold rush to exploit a range of opportunities that this resurgent oil rich country presents. Clearly and apparently, the lifting of sanction makes for the removal of restrictions on its oil, petro-chemicals, banking, natural gas and port sectors which are critical to the economy of this strategically located West Asian country.

…for India, the most pressing concern is how to counter China, a long time a buyer of Iranian oil and a major player in the Iranian development saga, in the race for Iranian “business opportunities.”

By all means, Tehran continues to hold immense strategic significance for India since Iran fits in well into the geo political and economic equation of India. And on a more practical plane, Iran could also be a trusted ally in India’s strategy to influence the course of events in the war ravaged Afghanistan where Taliban continues to pose a challenge to the ruling dispensation in Kabul.

The perception in New Delhi is that an economically revitalised Iran could be a major factor in facilitating Indian energy security by serving as a stable and long term source of fossil fuel supply to India. Whether Iran, which boasts of the fourth biggest proven reserve of crude oil and the second largest natural gas reserve in the world, would be able to supply crude to India at a price that could prove advantageous to the country, it is difficult to conclude at this point of time. However, the biggest attraction for India is that Iran’s economy is far more diverse than many of its oil rich neighbours.

But then for India, the most pressing concern is how to counter China, a long time a buyer of Iranian oil and a major player in the Iranian development saga, in the race for Iranian “business opportunities.” China has already made Iran a part of the One Belt One Road strategy by flagging off of a goods train from the industrial hub of Yiwa to Tehran. This new connectivity holds the key to Chinese vision of expanding the scope of trade, business and manufacturing across Europe and Asia.

Chabahar port project, in the race for which India has piped China to the winning post, seems to be the brightest spot in Indo-Iranian trade relations.

As it is, China has already inked a strategic partnership pact with the sanction free Iran to take care of military and security cooperation as well as intelligence sharing. For Iran the biggest positive point of doing business with China is that the middle kingdom is the largest importer of oil in the world. For China the strategic location of Iran holds the key for consolidating its geo political influence in West Asia. But then with European companies willing to do business with a sanction free Iran, China will have difficult times expanding its business avenues in Iran. At about the same time, what could tilt the Iranian scales in favour of China is that during the period of sanction, Chinese enterprises had invested heavily on building steel mills, highways, dams, shopping malls and rapid transportation systems as well as developing mining complexes in the country. The fact is that China is today Iran’s biggest trade partner.

By all means, India would need to reshape and recalibrate its Iranian strategy in the context of the rapidly shifting geo-political dynamics. Chabahar port project, in the race for which India has piped China to the winning post, seems to be the brightest spot in Indo-Iranian trade relations. It is in the fitness of things that the Indian Government has cleared a proposal of the Shipping Ministry to raise a credit of US$150-million for the development of Chabahar port. In this context, a statement from the Indian Government says,” India is negotiating this project to facilitate the growing trade and investment with Iran and other countries in the region, notably Afghanistan and also to provide opportunities to Indian companies to penetrate and enhance their footprint in the region”. As it is, last year the Indian Government had taken a decision to sanction $85.21-million for developing this Iranian port.

Meanwhile, both the countries are working towards preparing the ground for the Indian participation in the development of the strategically located Chabahar port and the adjoining Free Trade Zone (FTZ). During his late December 2015 visit to New Delhi, Ali Taibenia, Minister for Economic Affairs and Finance of Iran, had informed Sushma Swaraj, that India is free to rope in both private and public sector companies for the development of Chabahar Port and Chabahar FTZ. Evidently, the connectivity afforded by Indian participation in the development of Chabahar port would facilitate linking Afghanistan and Central Asia with India.

China can use the deep sea Gwadar port to support its naval forces in the Indian Ocean Region in addition to fast tracking the movement of its naval personnel to Indian Ocean in the event of an emergency.

Chabahar, which is located not far from Bandar Abbas port in the Strait of Hormuz, provides an alternate access to Afghanistan by bypassing Pakistan. This unique deep sea port located at the crossroads of global trade, commerce and energy routes, could also be India’s gateway to energy rich countries of Central Asia and further into Europe. India can make use of its role in the development of Chabahar for shipping crude and urea and in the process reduce the transportation cost of these two vital commodities by a substantial extent.

By all means, the Indian participation in Chabahar project cannot but be a win-win development for Afghanistan which can forge ahead with its maritime trade by bypassing the Karachi port in Pakistan. Chabahar port could play a crucial role in the economic reconstruction and development of the landlocked Afghanistan. In this context, India has finalized a plan to put in place a 900-km long railway line from Bamiyan province of Afghanistan to Chabahar. This railway line could also support Indian companies involved in minerals extraction in Bamiyan province.

Perhaps India can use Chabahar as a springboard to nullify the advantages that China could derive from the management control of Gwadar port in the neighbouring Pakistan. Of course, China can use the deep sea Gwadar port to support its naval forces in the Indian Ocean Region in addition to fast tracking the movement of its naval personnel to Indian Ocean in the event of an emergency. China has both financed and constructed the Gwadar port as it opens up a route for transportation of oil imported from West Asia by a 3,000-km long land route from Gwadar port to Kashgar in north western part of China.

On another front, India’s association with Chabahar project would imply a greater maritime relations between the two countries. For instance, India can bypass Dubai to reach Iran directly from Kandla port in Gujarat to Chabahar. Currently, Chabahar is handling 2-million tonnes of cargo annually. After the port is upgraded through a phased expansion plan, it would be possible to handle more than 80-million tonnes of cargo by 2020.

China, which had clandestinely supported Iran’s nuclear and missile development programme and did business with Iran during the time it was under sanction, could emerge an Iranian favourite much to the disadvantage of India.

India’s involvement in the expansion plan of Chabahar port being developed to meet the modern shipping standards while radically transforming the geo strategic position of Iran will help boost trade and business between Europe and Asia through overland route. Unlike Bandar Abbas located in the congested waters of the Strait of Hormuz that is also subject constant US naval patrol, Chabahar is located further to the east and is the only Iranian port with direct access to the Indian ocean region. The Chabahar port will enable India to effectively compete with China for trading opportunities across Central Asia, Russia and Europe.

India has also expressed its keenness to participate in the oil and gas exploration activities in Iran. This has been made amply clear by India’s External Affairs Ministry. But then the possibility of Iran typing with Chinese or Western energy enterprise is very much on the cards. To what extent India will be able to counter growing Chinese influence over Iran will depend on the diplomatic strategy and business blueprint it puts in place to engage Iran.

But then, China, which had clandestinely supported Iran’s nuclear and missile development programme and did business with Iran during the time it was under sanction, could emerge an Iranian favourite much to the disadvantage of India. For instance, Chinese footfalls are there to see everywhere in the capital city of Tehran. Hundreds of thousands of inexpensive cars, a well equipped metro system and huge shopping complexes built with Chinese money and expertise during the sanction regime provide a tell tale evidence to Chinese influence in Tehran.

Against such a backdrop India would need to work overtime to regain the Iranian confidence.
© Copyright 2016 Indian Defence Review

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