Growing Rivalry in Asia: India Steps Away from China’s Silk Road Project

The Polish Institute of International Affairs is an analytical institution established by an act of Parliament in 1996 to carry out research and provide expertise in international affairs. PISM disseminates information on contemporary international issues and maintains contacts with academic and political centres in Poland and abroad. The Institute runs courses for public servants, maintains a library (open to the public; 165,000 books and journals), organises conferences, and publishes books, periodicals and documents on Polish foreign policy and international matters.

The funding for PISM comes from the budget. The director is appointed by the prime minister for a term of five years, following consultation with the minister of foreign affairs. The minister supervises the Institute and appoints its advisory council, which includes a representative of the President of the Republic of Poland, academics and officials.One significant delegation missing from the Belt and Road Initiative Forum in Beijing in May was India. Although India’s boycott of the summit stemmed from bilateral problems in its cooperation with China, some of its reservations were shared in Europe. India’s stance would not stop the Chinese grand project, but pointed to a growing rivalry between the Asian powers. The European Union and its Member States should continue to support connections between Asia and Europe but also pressure on parties to ensure infrastructure investments meet the highest international standards.