Penolakan India terhadap Keanggotaan Penuh Cina dalam South Asian Association For Regional Cooperation(SAARC)

SOFARIA, Vanadia, Nur Rachmat Yuliantoro

2013 | Skripsi | Ilmu Hubungan Internasional

ABSTRACT South Asian Association for Regional Cooperation (SAARC) granted an observer status to China in 2006. China then has been giving significant contribution to the development of this organization ever since, not only economically but also militarily. This contribution brings China to a closer relationship with SAARC member countries. Several member countries, including Pakistan, Bangladesh, and Nepal then demand and support China to enhance its role in SAARC by becoming a full member. This idea was proposed in 2010 by Nepal and is now still on the table. This proposal has gained support from other member countries including Sri Lanka, Afghanistan, and The Maldives, but not from India. And up until now, India hasn’t showed any indication that it might change its decision towards this proposal. Based on the above situation, this thesis then addresses one research question: ‘Why does India reject the proposal of China’s full membership in SAARC?’. This question will be analyzed using two concepts, power-based international regime theory and risk-averse concept in prospect theory. The thesis elaborates that India’s response and attitude towards China’s involvement in SAARC is based on at least two things. First is India’s bilateral relationship with China that has been fluctuating since the Sino-Indian war in 1962 that created sensitivities and makes this relationship lack of trust. Second is India’s apprehension towards China’s contribution in SAARC and its closer relationship with other member countries. Those two reasons then lead to India’s concerns that its role as the largest, most powerful country in South Asia might be replaced by China. In other words, India’s rejection is a way to averse the risks that would emerge from China’s full membership in the organization. Keywords: SAARC, India-China bilateral relations, India’s rejection, risk-averse.

Kata Kunci : Politik Luar Negeri - Cina