China-South Asia connectivity

Competitive power politics have created barriers at a time when greater connectivity should be promoted.

The present-day China seems interested in reaching out to as many countries as possible because it aspires to be recognised and felt as a global power. Its endeavour to rediscover South Asian culture and heritage as part of its extending connectivity mission is quite natural. Indeed, President Xi Jinping’s China has tried to hone both hard and soft power capabilities by adopting a dualistic approach to upgrading its foreign policy objectives. Since China’s soft power competitive smartness is comparatively weaker than that of the Western powers, especially its fierce competitor, the United States of America, it seems to develop a level of connectivity in multiple areas—culture, history, infrastructure building and even political influence. Thus, this article captures such aspects that not only try to revisit the old links but also to rekindle the hope of bringing South Asians closer to the people of China. Language, civilisational commonalities and trade prospects are essential for promoting such cultural and other connectivity linkages.