Way forward on restoring Stilwell Road

Way forward on restoring Stilwell Road

1. Despite its concerns, India has toned down the two concerns because of the Look East policy
2. The process of advancing the strategy requires the stability of northern India, in which a well-functioning road system matters a lot
3. In line with these developments, Assam has recently started to fix part of the road
4. China as a more developed country should play a major role in the reconstruction work
5. All three countries should set up a joint dialogue mechanism, in which their concerns and problems can be put on the negotiating table
6. Dialogues will also include how to make peace with ethnic insurgents, and the three countries can find out solutions together
7. The ethnic groups living in this area can seize the chance and prosper

The Hindu

Issues with Stilwell Road in India & Myanmar

1. Myanmar: Started to renovate another section of the road, but the reconstruction is not smooth
2. Why? Lack of funds and technologies and the presence of Indian and Myanmarese ethnic insurgents in the area
3. India: Worried about the reconstruction of the road for two reasons
4. First, the road starts from Assam, a State where local militants have become increasingly active
5. Second, China-made products can flood into the Indian market through the road

The Hindu

June 17, 2016

What is Stilwell Road?

Source: The Hindu

1. Connects: India, China and Myanmar
2. Earlier: Called the Ledo Road, but renamed after Stilwell at the suggestion of Kuomintang leader Chiang Kai-shek
3. Ledo: A small town in northern India, is the starting point of this legendary road
4. From Ledo in Upper Assam to Kunming in Southwest China’s Yunnan Province, the road is 1,800-km-long
5. It is obvious that the road that connects China, India and Myanmar bears economic significance for South Asia, Southeast Asia and East Asia

Custom

June 17, 2016

Beijing calls for restoration of Stillwell Road

1. Context: Chinese media reports on restoring the Stilwell Road
2. Chinese media: India, China and Myanmar should establish a joint dialogue mechanism to restore the Stilwell Road to revitalise trade in the region
3. China: Completed the reconstruction of the section from Kunming to the Sino-Myanmese border and connected the road to China’s well-developed road system
4. Myanmar: Accomplished restoration of the section from the Sino-Myanmese border to Myitkyina, with China’s help
5. India: However, the sections from Myanmar to India and within India are barely usable & some parts have already been deserted due to bad conditions

The Hindu