JOIN USMisunderstandings that have crept in to spoil Sino-Indian relations in the wake of US President Barack Obama’s recent trip to India were hopefully cleared during External Affairs Minister Sushma Swaraj’s just-concluded visit to Beijing.
While her engagements there were aimed at preparing the ground for Prime Minister Narendra Modi’s upcoming visit to China, the six-point template she suggested to strengthen Sino-Indian engagement should go some way in assuring Beijing that India remains committed to improve ties.
The Joint Strategic Vision for the Asia-Pacific and Indian Ocean Region that was signed during Obama’s visit had ruffled feathers in Beijing as it envisages India-US co-operation in protecting freedom of navigation, maritime security and air space safety in the Asia Pacific and Indian Ocean regions.
Although the document doesn’t explicitly mention China, it has been widely perceived as marking the start of a new US-led alliance in the Asia Pacific and Indian Ocean regions that is aimed at containing China. Understandably, this irked Beijing.
Strengthening India-US relations is welcome. However, expanding ties with Washington must not be at the expense of our relations with other countries, especially our neighbours. After all, stability in the neighbourhood impacts directly on India’s security and well-being.
China is a neighbour with whom India shares a long and disputed border, one that tends to bristle with tension periodically. The bilateral relationship has not been easy and it is only in the past couple of decades that this is seeing improvement in fits and starts.
India cannot afford to jeopardise the hard-won gains made in this relationship. Annoying China, which is also India’s largest trade partner to please a geographically distant power, is not in India’s best interests.
India must avoid aligning its security concerns with Washington. Doing so leaves it vulnerable to making enemies of countries that it should be co-operating with. The manner in which India’s relations with long-time friend Iran frayed under the US pressure is a case in point and the Modi government must avoid repeating past mistakes.
India’s foreign policy must be aimed at achieving its own priorities and goals rather than furthering interests and agendas of others. In a multi-polar world, it is unwise to put all our eggs in one basket.
It is not in India’s interest to identify with the US’ ‘Pivot to Asia strategy’ or to allow itself to become Washington’s lynchpin. Delhi needs neither the advice nor the input of the Americans in crafting its policy and strategy towards China. India is fully capable of dealing directly with Beijing.