written by Mohammad Samir Hussain printable version send your friend

Thursday, 1 December 2011

Very rightly the U.S. Undersecretary of State William Burns has said in June 2010 that “Never has there been a moment when India and America mattered more to one another. And never has there been a moment when partnership between India and America mattered more to the rest of the globe.”

The twenty-first century India-U.S. strategic relations are at the threshold of unprecedented developments. Since the turn of twenty-first century, the relations have witnessed significant improvement in multi-dimensional aspects. A remarkable change in the relationship between the two countries can be perceived in the nature, content and the scope of the evolving relationship. Thanks to the changing international strategic environment and the bilateral efforts on the part of the two countries that makes it possible for the relations to prosper better than the past.

The fact is that India by virtue of its growing economic strength, global importance, and influence has become an important aspect of American foreign policy.  It is well on its way to becoming the world's most populous country, and it is among the world’s fastest growing economies. India plays a central role in Asian affairs and ever more so in world affairs.  It is thus strategically important to the interests of the United States.[1] 

China is closely watching the prospering India-U.S. relations with suspicion because it perceives that the expanding multifaceted relationship between India and the United States is finally aimed at the containment of China. China doesn’t want to see India become a major great power in the world and the relationship with the United States is the key to India achieving this objective. It also believes that the relationship would alter the regional balance of power. Beijing apprehension is fuelled by the growing defence and security relations between India and United States. Also the military-to-military ties since the last one decade has improved significantly.

A Beijing concern over the expanding India-U.S. relations is well placed by Mr. Yang Yunzhong at the Jinan Military Academy when he critically said that, “The rapid developments between US-India relations will exert profound influence on the political and security environment of the Asia-Pacific region and the world. The U.S. now views India as a leading player in South Asian affairs and a rising world power, not just a source of regional problems. Both economically and militarily, India is gathering momentum and this provides the U.S. more diplomatic and strategic angles to play in the region. Among the benefits for the U.S. is the fostering of an anti-China stronghold, south-west of China.” Mr. Yang views reflect the fact that China is seriously concerned that the growing relationship has the potential to restrict Beijing influence in Asia-Pacific region.[2] As another Chinese scholar Mr. Zhang Lijun thinks, ‘most importantly, India is the best bet to restrict a future strong China, as per U.S. regional security strategy in Asia’. Also Mr. Zhang Guihong said, “U.S.-India strategic partnership in South Asia and the Indian Ocean, and U.S.-Japan military alliance in East Asia and West Pacific Ocean are the two major concerns for China in the new big power games in the Asia-Pacific region.” Such a perceptions only reflects that China is serious worried about the growing India-U.S. relationship.[3]

Many Indian and American Strategic analysts have refuted the claim made by Beijing as not reasonable. As former U.S. Under-Secretary of Commerce, Mr. Juster in his speech in Mumbai on 20 November 2003 has said that, “A strong and vibrant India will be the most effective in advancing our shared objective of promoting peace and stability in Asia, combating global terrorism and stemming the problem of Weapons of Mass Destruction.” In addition to this, according to a report prepared by the U.S. based Council on Foreign Relations, “U.S.-India military-to-military cooperation is evolving along lines that the pentagon has established with many non-allied but ‘friendly’ countries and the policy challenges is to continue this enhanced cooperation and where possible, to enlarge its parameters’.

Chinese claim of the growing India-U.S. relationship as moving in the direction of containment of the former is baseless because this is not the first time United States has come out in support of any country. If United States has expressed its intention to help India become a major power then it is in keeping with the changing world scenario and the role that India is most likely to play for the international peace and security. If U.S. is willing to help India to become a major power then it is not aimed at undermining Beijing role and instead the move would reduce the responsibility of both U.S. and China. What the Chinese should not forget is the fact that despite of having fought a war and a clash of interest, United States has come out in support of it during the cold war period. United States has provided them with technology and capital support. U.S. support has played an important part for the Chinese to become a world power. Today when United States is ready to help India to become a world class power, Beijing is making false claim so that India does not get the benefit of the relationship. Such a Chinese selfish claim should not dissuade India from engaging closely with United States the sole super power in the world. India stands at the threshold of huge strategic gain from this relationship.[4]

If the United States has expressed its intention to help India become a major power then it is in keeping with the changing world scenario and the role that India is most likely to play for the international peace and security. If U.S. is willing to help India to become a major power then it is not aimed at undermining Beijing role and instead the move would reduce the responsibility of both U.S. and China. The United States has provided them with technology and capital support. U.S. support has played an important part for the Chinese to become a world power. Today when the United States is ready to help India to become a world class power, Beijing is making false claim so that India does not get the benefit of the relationship. Such a Chinese selfish claim should not dissuade India from engaging closely with the United States the sole super power in the world. India stands at the threshold of huge strategic gain from this relationship.[5]

It was during his visit to New Delhi in March 2008, U.S. Defence Secretary Mr. Gates made it very clear in the context of the growing military-to-military ties that, “I don’t see our improving military relationship in this region in the context of any other country, including China. When you look at the kinds of activities that we are engaged in and the kind of exercises that we conduct…these expanding relationships don’t necessarily have to be directed against anybody.”[6] Also that United States is not the only country with whom India engage in a joint military exercises. India also conducts regular naval exercises with IOR and Southeast Asian navies. What China should not forget is that it was in the year 2004, India held its second joint exercise with its People’s Liberation Army Navy (PLAN). The exercise provided an opportunity for the two Asian giants not only to assess one another, but also to extend a hand of rapprochement in the face of existing circumstances that cause the Chinese to feel encircled by the United States.[7]

India foreign policy interest would be to have close relations with Russia, France, Australia, Japan, etc. India is a rising power in the world which is still in the process of development that needs the support of other countries and in particular to United States owing to the pre-eminent power. India would never want the growing relations with United States to come at the cost of its relations with any of the abovementioned countries including China. India would like to have balance relations with each of these countries. For instance, India enjoys a strategic partnership with Russia which has a clash of interest with United States. However, in some cases, it may tilt in favor of one country depending upon the convergence of interests and a close understanding.[8]


References

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[1] Refer to “The Promise of U.S.-Indian Partnerships”, available at <http://www.voanews.com/policy/editorials/The-Promise-Of--95859474.html>.

[2] Monika Chansoria, “Indo-US Relations: Assessing the China Factor”, World Focus (New Delhi), vol. XXIX, No. 7, July 2008, pp. 270-71.

[3] David Scott, China Stands Up: The PRC and the International System (London and New York: Routledge, 2007), p. 157.

[4] Chintamani Mahapatra, “The United States and the Asian Powers”, in R.R. Sharma (ed.), India and Emerging Asia (New Delhi: Sage Publication, 2005), pp. 173-75.

[5] K Subrahmanyam, “Indo-US Relations in the Coming Decades”, U.S.I. Journal, vol. CXXXV, No. 561, July-September 2005,, pp. 360-65.

[6] Karl F. Inderfurth, “U.S.-India Relations”, in The Asia Foundation, America’s Role in Asia: Asian and American Views (San Francisco, 2008), pp. 266-67. 

[7] P K Ghosh, “Maritime Security Challenges in South Asia and the Indian Ocean: Response Strategies”, Paper Presented at the Conference on Maritime Security in Asia, Honolulu, Hawaii, 18-20 January 2004.  

[8] David Shambaugh, “The Evolving Security Order in Asia: Implications for US-India Relations”, in Alyssa Ayres and C. Raja Mohan (ed.), Power Realignments in Asia: China, India and United States (New Delhi, 2009), p. 139.


*Dr. Mohammad Samir Hussain is working as Research Associate in Yashwantro Chavan-National Center of International Security and Defence Analysis, University of Pune, India.  He can be reached at samirkhullakpam@gmail.com.