Vishnu Pad Ray, a candidate for the BJP from the Andaman-Nicobar group, sparked a debate by alleging former Prime Minister Jawaharlal Nehru of gifting the Coco Island from the Andaman Island group to Myanmar. This island now directly falls under China's control, with suspicions of possession overlooked by Congress over the past 70 years. Today, the Indian government is establishing a shipyard and two defense airfields in Campbell Bay to contend against China.
Did Nehru Truly Do This?
There is mixed information about this. The Andaman-Nicobar Island group used to be under British rule before independence and were included under British India. Post-independence, they became part of free India. However, it is said that the Coco Islands were handed over to Burma, which was then under the British Empire.
Another Claim Unfolds
As per this claim, the British government chose the Andaman Islands to penalize Indian revolutionaries in the 19th century. Reportedly, food used to be sent from the Coco Island to avoid the trouble of growing grain-vegetables. Supposedly to skip this hassle, the Britishers leased this island to an influential Burmese family. In 1882, this island was officially considered part of Burma, now Myanmar.
Source: aajtak
Conspiracy Theories Abound
Some believe that before India gained independence, the British government intentionally detached Coco Island from India to weaken its strategic position. An article by The Tribune mentioned this act of the British, stating the British Army's Joint Planning Staff had decided this beforehand.
The Controversial Island in Detail
Coco Island lies about 55 kilometers from the Andaman and Nicobar Island group, spanning nearly 20 square kilometers. The island is named for its abundance of coconut trees - a narrative woven into the fabric of every coastal region. It consists of two parts - Great Coco and Little Coco.
As the island changed hands, it slipped from the focus. Once part of Myanmar, the local military commander General Ne Win turned it into a penal colony. By the 1970s, China began showing interest in Coco Island.
Source: aajtak
Islands are small land masses in the midst of the oceans, but their strategic importance can lead to a tug-of-war. China leased Coco Island from Myanmar and initiated military activity there, establishing jetties, naval services, and electronic intelligence systems.
Why Myanmar Gave in to China
Myanmar has long been politically and economically unstable. The Rohingya Muslims there, who were never accepted by the local Buddhist population, live amidst constant tension. The domestic strife has impacted the country's politics. As a result, Myanmar has never been economically robust.
According to The Guardian, China heavily indebted Myanmar, so much so that China's debt accounted for 40% of the total debt even before 2020. The situation has forced Myanmar's government to almost yield to China's presence. Moreover, China has other significant projects in Myanmar like the Kyaukphyu Port, offering it a vantage point to monitor Indian nuclear submarine activities.
Source: aajtak
The Infrastructure Shift
Though Myanmar denies leasing Coco Island to China, Google Earth images have captured the PLA's transformations on the island. The airstrip, once suitable only for smaller aircraft, spans 2500 meters to accommodate military planes.
Satellite imagery suggests that this expansion took place nearly five years ago during a period when China was ramping up its aggression. It even engaged in border clashes with India.
Katchatheevu Island: A Quick Glimpse of Another Dispute
Recently, BJP targeted Congress over Katchatheevu Island, situated between India and Sri Lanka. An RTI revealed that the island was handed over to Sri Lanka under a 1974 agreement signed by then Prime Minister Indira Gandhi and President Sirimavo Bandaranaike. This sparked discussions on territories supposedly transferred to other nations. India and Bangladesh had a similar agreement in the 1970s, which occasionally leads to dispute.
