India, Oz, Japan discuss OBOR concerns

Smita Sharma

Tribune News Service

New Delhi, December 13

The fourth round of India-Japan-Australia trilateral consultations on regional issues were held today. Foreign Secretary Dr S Jaishankar hosted his Australian counterpart Frances Adamson and Vice-Foreign Minister of Japan Shinsuke J Sugiyama in Delhi.

The “growing convergence” of the three countries in the Indo-Pacific was central to discussions. The official Indian release said the three sides “underscored their shared commitment to peace, democracy, economic growth and a rules-based order in the region. They underscored their support for ASEAN centrality in the political and security architecture of the Indo-Pacific region”. 

China’s “One belt, one road” (OBOR) figured prominently in the talks and working lunch lasting around three-and-half hours. India expressed its “acute sovereignty concerns” given the China-Pakistan Economic Corridor as its flagship project. Australia also raised concerns of debt traps and lack of transparency surrounding the project. Interacting with select media, Adamson said, “Each of us has a very strong commitment to transparency around these projects, financing arrangements scrutiny, environmental standards and labour standards. Irrespective of under whose auspices these projects are held. So what we discussed is the principles involved.”