India Can never Become An US Appendage
US Defense Secretary Lloyd Austin started his visit to India on Friday with China on his mind, while observers noted that despite deepening security partnership, India will not downgrade as a US’ appendage like some European and Asian countries , since New Delhi has always Chartered its own independent path.
Austin’s visit follows his visits to Japan and South Korea for 2+2 dialogues, and coincides the China-US high-level meeting which started with intense verbal exchanges..
Observers pointed out that the US wants to persuade India to join its chariot to encircle China with benefits in military equipment and intelligence sharing, but India always a major power politically has now grown in stature both economically and militarily too. Thus their (US and India) strategic goals do not match.
Austin arrived late afternoon on Friday and is scheduled to meet his Indian counterpart Rajnath Singh on Saturday, according to media reports. Austin will also talk with India’s National Security Advisor Ajit Doval about China and important regional security issues including Afghanistan.
Reuters reported that the two sides are expected to discuss India’s purchase of US armed drones and combat jets. Though it will be a very foolish act on USA part if any question is raised by Austin on India’s proposed purchase of the Russian S-400 missile defense system. Any threat of US sanctions, will become a major conflict point and derail the entire Indo US friendship process.
The early visit of a new US cabinet member to India shows the US is attaching increasing importance to India in its Indo-Pacific strategy, citing the Quad and intelligence sharing agreements.
The Trump administration’s first cabinet Minister to visit India was then Defense minister Jim Mattis, who visited in September 2017, nine months after Donald Trump took office.
Japan, after the 2+2 dialogue with the US, issued an acrimonious statement, which the Chinese Foreign Ministry noted to be a signal of Japan downgrading as a US lackey. Australia, despite its trade heavily dependent on China, has run at the front of US allies in criticizing China over a wide range of issues, from Xinjiang to Hong Kong.
Song Zhongping, a military expert and TV commentator, has said that the US wanted India to cooperate with it on the Indian Ocean, as part of its strategy to contain China at sea. Engaging Japan and Australia is of the same purpose in other directions. But India, with a strong presence in the Indian Ocean, will never become or even appear to become a US follower, Song said.
India’s role in the upcoming Quad-plus-France military drills in Bay of Bengal, reflects its dominance in the region, analysts said earlier. So India can never become a camp follower.
The China-India LAC clashes in 2020, which brought about casualties on both sides, has made India more determined to cooperate with friendly democracies like the US. Even Washington is ready to help New Delhi by leasing surveillance drones and supplying cold-weather gear for Indian troops. However USA should not dream of attaching any strings or dictate terms in this bilateral relationship.
On the other hand , India on its own is also managing China-India tensions through de-escalation and with disengagement of troops on the LAC , which “created room for relationship restoration”.
Despite military clashes in 2020, China surpassed the US as the largest trading partner of India in the first nine months of India’s fiscal year 2020-21 (from April to December 2020). India exports to China were $15.3 billion while imports hit $45.4 billion, showing the two are deeply intertwined. However India has given a very firm signal that unless China completely mends its ways , there will be complete de coupling in a phased manner. There will be NO BUSINESS AS USUAL any more.
India has initiated restrictions on Chinese direct investments and sanctions to Chinese apps. dDcoupling has already commenced and gathering momentum day by day.
China and India have broad common interests and tremendous potential for cooperation. The two sides should intensify cooperation by solving the issue of Chinese Occupied Ladhak and the Tibetan freedom.
