Yes, many islands have strategic importance. But ignoring their ecosystems is a self-goal
Modi’s visit to Seychelles highlights the growing importance of islands in current geopolitics. But islands have always played a pivotal role in human affairs. Not just in terms of strategy, but civilisationally. Recently, indigenous people of Taiwan’s Orchid Island undertook a historic sea voyage by a hand-built boat. The journey from Orchid Island to Batanes Islands in Philippines across the Bashi Channel, retraces a 4,000-year-old migratory route, connecting the Austronesian island people of the Pacific. Islands are amazing hotspots of human culture and biodiversity. Despite accounting for a mere 5% of our planet’s landmass, they are home to 20% of all bird, reptile, plant species. Plus, they are the barometers of overall planetary health.
Yet, throughout history, islands and islanders have received step-motherly treatment. They have borne the brunt of policy exclusion and climate injustice. Orchid Island, in 1980s, was used as a dump yard for low-grade nuclear waste – the current Taiwanese govt has acknowledged this historical mistake and vowed to make amends. Similarly, US nuclear testing on Bikini Atoll vapourised several islets, poisoned the soil and water, and left locals with long-term health consequences. Then there are Chagos Islands, which were forcibly cleared of local inhabitants by the British, to make way for a joint UK-US military base on Diego Garcia.
Unfortunately, islands today are viewed as strategic pieces to be acquired, developed or militarised to serve national security goals. And current wars in Persian Gulf and Black Sea have only reinforced this perception. Add to this new engineering tech to expand islands or even build artificial ones – like China is doing in South China Sea.
All of this not only diminishes islands and islanders, but also desensitises non-islanders to the fragile ecosystems and civilisational heritage of islands. It’s nobody’s case that islands should not be developed for national interests. But often such development overlooks the damage it does to islands, and their people. Surely, India’s strategic interests in the Great Nicobar Island can be secured without felling 15mn trees in virgin rainforests. One way to go would be to listen to local inhabitants and make them stakeholders in development – something, historically, countries haven’t done. India could lead this change.
Disclaimer
Views expressed above are the author’s own.
