In the recent debate over the 123 Agreement, two major underlying issues have been totally overlooked. One, the 123 Agreement is not an isolated and stand-alone development. It is an important step in the growing relationship between India and the US. Both sides have come to recognise congruence of national interests and decided to work towards building a long-term strategic relationship.
Lease and sale of Weapon Locating Radars in 2003 was the first sign of the changing US attitude. A number of working groups were constituted for regular dialogue at different levels to sort out irritants. Joint land, air and naval exercises helped develop better understanding, with “more complex and patterned” war games being planned for the coming years. 
The pace of cooperation in defence technology got a boost with the signing of the New Framework of Defence Relationship in June 2005, to promote technology transfers, co-production, joint development and collaborative research. Lease of two P-3C reconnaissance aircrafts marked another watershed.
Major boost
Indo-US relations got a major boost with the announcement of of the strategic and technological partnership Initiative during Manmohan Singh’s visit to Washington in July 2005. The US accepted India as a “responsible state with advanced nuclear technology” and offered to cooperate with India on civilian nuclear energy issues.
It facilitated establishment of a regulatory framework for promoting strategic trade and high-technology commerce by addressing mutual concerns. As a follow up, a comprehensive science & technology framework agreement was concluded in Oct 2005 with an IPR protocol facilitating collaborative research and joint development.
The mutual legal assistance treaty of 2005 assured mutual help to investigate offences related to terrorism, narcotics, trafficking and other organised crimes.The 123 Agreement has been clinched after prolonged and somewhat tortuous negotiations. Civil nuclear energy is one component of a larger energy dialogue between India and the US. That brings one to the second issue. What has prompted India to join hands with the US and discard its decades old policy of not aligning with any superpower?
The reasons
Despite India’s best efforts to develop good neighbourly relations with China, the Chinese response has been highly negative and at times even bordering on hostility. During the last two decades, recognition of Sikkim as a part of India is perhaps the only friendly gesture emanating from Beijing. Otherwise, its every policy and every act has been anti-Indian. The list is endless.
China continues to stall resolution of the border dispute. Every Indian effort to hasten the process is met with delaying tactics. China, at times, has gone to the extent of reopening settled issues. Recently, it reneged on the mutually agreed principle of not disturbing settled population.
China has conveyed an unmistakable indication that it wants the boundary issue to remain unsolved. Non-issue of visa to officials from Arunachal Pradesh was a deliberate step to needle India. Regular Chinese intrusions in disputed areas have revealed their sinister intentions. Despite world pressure, China continues to prop Pakistan as a proxy against India by transferring nuclear and missile technology.  Similarly, it continues to encircle India by establishing naval bases.
In view of continuing and unabated Chinese hostility, India has no option except to make common cause with the US. China has lost a golden opportunity to develop permanent and intimate friendship with India. If today India is leaning towards the US, China has itself to blame. Pro-China opponents of the 123 Agreement will do well to mull over this aspect. Instead of faulting the Indian Government for the growing Indo-US intimacy, they should question China for its obduracy and anti-Indian stance.
(The writer is a retired Major General.)