Text Size:A- A+
At some point recently, it seemed that India had no fight with the Chinese at all. One such instance was when US Senator Mark Warner said that India needed to get off the fence and join a coalition of the willing to confront Beijing. Warners comments matter. Re-elected from Virginia, he is the co-chair of the Senate India caucus, and vice-chairman of the Select Intelligence Committee. Other US officials have said the same thing, and its no secret that this issue dominates think tank discussions.
Most Indians would find these remarks strange. After all, the Indian Army is engaged in an eyeball to eyeball confrontation with the Peoples Liberation Army (PLA) in Ladakh, and is spending billions of rupees that it cannot afford in shoring up defences. Thats hardly sitting on the fence. But apparently, thats not good enough for US officials. Deciphering what exactly they want is no easy task. But a look at the main planks of the China policy on both sides (US and India) could help assess the possibility of a league of democracies that will hopefully row together for the shore instead of oaring the other into the water.
Also read: Countering China is now a priority for both India and US. But only one needs the other
There is no doubt that under President Donald Trump, Washington has been forthright about the threat from China. True, he sometimes called President Xi Jinping his friend, but his top officials have been more than forthright. A recent instance was Secretary of State Mike Pompeos remarks at the Tokyo meeting of the Quad or Quadrilateral, which includes Japan, Australia and India. Pompeo lambasted the Chinese Communist Party for the cover up of the coronavirus outbreak. That was certainly taking the bull by the horns.
Indias stance has been very different, avoiding condemnation of China, with Prime Minister Narendra Modis remarks at the recent Shanghai Cooperation Organization (SCO) being just one example. Foreign Minister S. Jaishankars enunciations have been on the same lines. For instance, at a recent interaction with an Australian think tank, Jaishankar merely said that relations with China had been damaged significantly, also noting that mending of ties would be difficult.
On the talking front then, the US-India partnership is distinctly on a different track. But then, for India, its not just a difficult neighbour, but a difficult neighbourhood, where China is also invested heavily. Besides, talking big pays for little when your purse is small.
Also read: Why Joe Bidens choice for US defence secretary isnt just about China
The US undoubtedly has a raft of government papers like the National Security Strategy 2017, which first bookmarked China as a revisionist power; the key National Defence Strategy 2018, which prioritised China as a long term competitor; the Annual Report on the PLA; and most recently, the State Departments The Elements of the China Challenge, which is meant to fashion a sturdy policy that will be above election cycles and bureaucratic squabbles. These are only the major policy papers.
Beyond this is the legislative process that at least tries to go in the desired direction. One such legislation allowed the Department of Defense to fund startups and lead innovation, intended to give the US a lead in critical technologies like Artificial Intelligence where China has an edge.
Another instance is the imposition of sanctions on Chinese companies on different grounds. India moved to not only ban some 267 Chinese apps, but also stopped Chinese (and other) foreign investment from buying out distressed Indian companies. The government also amended the General Financial Rules 2017 to disallow participation of countries sharing land borders with India in government contracts.
India, however, has no tradition of long-term policy planning documents, which might have done much to prevent the surprise of Ladakh. Our policy, therefore, is short term, and subject to election cycles and bureaucratic stove piping. Thats simply not good enough. A long-term policy paper, with elements leaked out to the media, might be a thought. Most vitally, it will put the whole government on the same page.
Also read: Why has Indias China policy been such a failure? Question New Delhis assumptions first
The US alliance system created after World War II was directed primarily against the Soviets. Europe did participate in theatres like Afghanistan, but their hearts are simply not in it. The Indo-Pacific construct is an attempt to create a semi-alliance outside traditional treaty partners such as Australia and Japan using different platforms including the Quad. Here again, India has chosen to stress inclusivity, so that it is not seen as directed against China, although Delhi did tag the need for quality infrastructure based on sovereignty, equality and territorial integrity as well as transparency, economic viability and financial responsibility in a rare dig at the BRI (Belt and Road Initiative).
But that was as far as Delhi was willing to go. Meanwhile, it continued to attend forums like the SCO and the Russia-India-China trilateral. That puzzles US watchers as to what is actually the status of China-India relations. But the reality is that relations are never cut off, especially during a crisis, as the US should know from the Cuban missile crisis. Even during the peak of the Cold War, the two sides continued to engage. However, it might be useful to keep the US briefed about the intent and outcomes of these meetings on a case by case basis. Sometimes, transparency can speed up movement of files, and prevent nasty comments in Congress.
Also read: Hybrid war, Quad or sitting it out? The 5 options for India against China
The signing of all four foundational agreements with the US and the designation of Delhi as a Major Defense Partner does mean that bilateral relations have reached a new level, even though it falls well short of any treaty alliance. It is unlikely that India will agree to a full treaty relationship that binds it as a junior partner to the US, unless the Chinese threat increases to levels where even the nuclear deterrent is deemed effective. That is unlikely, since Beijing knows full well that any outright aggression will have serious consequences.
Short of that, however, its possible to broaden the relationship to include a strong intelligence partnership within the Quad, in a manner similar to theFive Eyes Alliance, which comprises the US, Canada, Australia, New Zealand and the UK. All four Quad members critically need to sit together to decide on the threat ten years down the line, and the specifics of capabilities needed against an agreed-upon threat. That, in turn, could be in part the basis for Indias own long-term defence planning.
Japan, Australia and India are already in talks for supply chain resilience to reduce dependence on China. Similar initiatives like cooperation for technology innovation could be considered. But the key here is Quad members sitting down to seriously consider the strategic threat, not just defence. That falls short of one for all and all for one defence commitment. But it does put all on a common path of fending off the multifarious threats from China, like cyber attacks, linked espionage and technology theft.
It is said that there is a tide in the affairs of men, including bureaucrats. Its time to evaluate that tide, one from the west and the other from the east, and then pull together across ministries to move in the desired direction. Coordination is key for all concerned, including the US whose tendency to lecture others on issues that it has little or no understanding of, tends to push the boat in the opposite direction. That could be called sitting on the fence too, one which would be mighty uncomfortable to accept.
The author is former director, National Security Council Secretariat. Views are personal.
Subscribe to our channels on YouTube & Telegram
Why news media is in crisis & How you can fix it
India needs free, fair, non-hyphenated and questioning journalism even more as it faces multiple crises.
But the news media is in a crisis of its own. There have been brutal layoffs and pay-cuts. The best of journalism is shrinking, yielding to crude prime-time spectacle.
ThePrint has the finest young reporters, columnists and editors working for it. Sustaining journalism of this quality needs smart and thinking people like you to pay for it. Whether you live in India or overseas, you can do it here.
Support Our Journalism
See original here:
US wants India to get off the fence over China. But forgets Cuban crisis lesson - ThePrint
- Sun Prairie fences off pond where 2 brothers died after falling through ice - Fox11online.com - January 22nd, 2024 [January 22nd, 2024]
- BBMP to spend 32.5 crore to fence lakes - Times of India - January 22nd, 2024 [January 22nd, 2024]
- Stray Cat Watches Guy Through Hole In Fence Hiding An Adorable Secret - The Dodo - January 22nd, 2024 [January 22nd, 2024]
- Everyone can see the fence but you have the eyes of a hawk if you can spot the cat in ten seconds... - The US Sun - January 22nd, 2024 [January 22nd, 2024]
- Wisconsin city fences off pond following deaths of 2 boys who fell through ice - Fox News - January 22nd, 2024 [January 22nd, 2024]
- Sun Prairie fences off pond where 2 boys died after falling through ice - Ashland Daily Press - January 22nd, 2024 [January 22nd, 2024]
- Will Mass Migration Breach Poland's Famous Border Fence? - The National Interest Online - January 22nd, 2024 [January 22nd, 2024]
- 'The Bear': Ebon Moss-Bachrach On Whether Carmy & Richie Mend Fences In Season 3 Emmys Red Carpet - Yahoo New Zealand News - January 22nd, 2024 [January 22nd, 2024]
- India Plans to Fence Off Myanmar Frontier - The Irrawaddy - January 22nd, 2024 [January 22nd, 2024]
- Migrant pinned to fence and dragged away after trying to speak to reporters at Manston in Kent - Sky News - November 10th, 2022 [November 10th, 2022]
- Balkan Route: Hungary Increasing Fence on Serbian Border Amid Ongoing Violence and Extended Controls, NGOs to Launch a Joint Action to Support... - November 10th, 2022 [November 10th, 2022]
- Parents devastated after autistic child kicked out of school because it doesn't have a fence - Newshub - November 10th, 2022 [November 10th, 2022]
- Fence surrounding US Capitol is expected to come down starting on July 8 - Fox News - July 2nd, 2021 [July 2nd, 2021]
- The Peruvian Pavilion in the 2021 Venice Biennale Seeks to Transform Fences into Tools for Integration - ArchDaily - July 2nd, 2021 [July 2nd, 2021]
- Galloping and Setting Up for Cross-Country Fences: A Conversation - United States Eventing Association - July 2nd, 2021 [July 2nd, 2021]
- On the fence about getting your children vaccinated for COVID? Here are a few reasons to consider it - Providence - July 2nd, 2021 [July 2nd, 2021]
- Fence Supply Inc. Forms Partnership with Fencing Supply Group, a Portfolio Company of The Sterling Group - PRNewswire - July 2nd, 2021 [July 2nd, 2021]
- Why You Need to Turn Around When You See A Purple Fence Post in IL - q985online.com - July 2nd, 2021 [July 2nd, 2021]
- 'The Fence is Never Coming Down,' and Other Things Urban Alchemy Told Us - Knock LA - July 2nd, 2021 [July 2nd, 2021]
- Coffee shop owners forgive teens who graffitied fence, let them paint over it - Yahoo News - July 2nd, 2021 [July 2nd, 2021]
- Is This Why Prince Harry Can't Mend Fences With The Royals - The List - July 2nd, 2021 [July 2nd, 2021]
- Why Tho? Weve been warned about you! Neighbors find theyre the Boo Radleys of the subdivision - OregonLive - July 2nd, 2021 [July 2nd, 2021]
- Bear Spotted At Area Condo Complex Before Climbing Fence - Southwest Dutchess Daily Voice - July 2nd, 2021 [July 2nd, 2021]
- Bear Spotted At Westchester Condo Complex Before Climbing Fence - White Plains Daily Voice - July 2nd, 2021 [July 2nd, 2021]
- Policy regime nudged fence-sitters to be first-time homebuyers: Niranjan Hiranandani - BusinessLine - July 2nd, 2021 [July 2nd, 2021]
- Baseball Mascots: Ranking the MLB Mascots - Through The Fence Baseball - July 2nd, 2021 [July 2nd, 2021]
- Over the Garden Fence: Your garden in the spotlight - Bournemouth Echo - July 2nd, 2021 [July 2nd, 2021]
- Group formed to make fences more wildlife friendly in Cody area - Billings Gazette - February 9th, 2021 [February 9th, 2021]
- Dog abandoned, left tied to fence in Escondido park - 10News - February 9th, 2021 [February 9th, 2021]
- Unusual history behind the fences on South London estates dating back to the war - My London - February 9th, 2021 [February 9th, 2021]
- Bill Press: Tear down this fence! | TheHill - The Hill - February 9th, 2021 [February 9th, 2021]
- DHHL removes campers, installs fence in Kalawahine on Oahu - KHON2 - February 9th, 2021 [February 9th, 2021]
- Driver in custody after plowing through fence, ending pursuit with lengthy standoff in Woodland Hills - KTLA Los Angeles - February 9th, 2021 [February 9th, 2021]
- Reopening gripes, fence frustrations and a wage freeze | HeraldNet.com - The Daily Herald - February 9th, 2021 [February 9th, 2021]
- Yeh, nah, maybe. When it comes to accepting the COVID vaccine, it's Australia's fence-sitters we should pay attention to - The Conversation AU - February 9th, 2021 [February 9th, 2021]
- New Plymouth woman goes on the fence offensive - Stuff.co.nz - February 9th, 2021 [February 9th, 2021]
- LFR battles shed fire that spread to fence, threatened 2 homes in East Lubbock Sunday - KLBK | KAMC | EverythingLubbock.com - February 9th, 2021 [February 9th, 2021]
- [UPDATED] Driver Hits Multiple Cars and a Fence in Early Morning Crash, Says Fortuna PD Redheaded Blackbelt - Redheaded Blackbelt - February 9th, 2021 [February 9th, 2021]
- Audio: Missouri fence laws topic of in-person program on February 23 and March 8, 2021 - kttn - February 9th, 2021 [February 9th, 2021]
- There Are Ways To Protect The Capitol Without A Fence - Yahoo News - February 9th, 2021 [February 9th, 2021]
- On The Fence About COVID Vaccines? These Teens Want To Talk To You - Colorado Public Radio - February 9th, 2021 [February 9th, 2021]
- Across the Fence: Salt On Our Tongues - The Suburban Times - February 9th, 2021 [February 9th, 2021]
- New London woman drives through yards and fences, crashes into garage after leaving car wash in Willmar - West Central Tribune - February 4th, 2021 [February 4th, 2021]
- Everyday Ethics: Fences and neighbors [Opinion] - Reading Eagle - February 4th, 2021 [February 4th, 2021]
- Independence amends ordinance on fences, hedges and walls - cleveland.com - February 4th, 2021 [February 4th, 2021]
- Proposal to build permanent fence around the Capitol meets resistance - CNN - February 4th, 2021 [February 4th, 2021]
- Rep. Bob Gibbs gives thumbs up to border fence, thumbs down to Capitol Hill security fence - cleveland.com - February 4th, 2021 [February 4th, 2021]
- Watch: More Barbed Wire Fences, Spikes On Roads At Singhu Protest Site - NDTV - February 4th, 2021 [February 4th, 2021]
- Rep. Budd tells Congress to tear down its fence - Washington Times - February 4th, 2021 [February 4th, 2021]
- Section Of Fence At Silverdale Detention Center Found To Have Been Cut; All Inmates Accounted For - The Chattanoogan - February 4th, 2021 [February 4th, 2021]
- Types of Fences - The Home Depot - January 30th, 2021 [January 30th, 2021]
- Fences 3.09 for Windows - Download - January 30th, 2021 [January 30th, 2021]
- Wood Fence Panels - Wood Fencing - The Home Depot - January 30th, 2021 [January 30th, 2021]
- McCarthy Tries to Mend Fences With Trump - The Wall Street Journal - January 30th, 2021 [January 30th, 2021]
- Casual Friday: New Nez Perce County sheriff looks to mend fences - Lewiston Morning Tribune - January 30th, 2021 [January 30th, 2021]
- US Capitol surrounded by fence, troops as threats continue - NEWS10 ABC - January 30th, 2021 [January 30th, 2021]
- Take a pair, leave a pair: The Mitten Fence at Buffalos Peoples Park is helping keep the Queen City warm - WIVB.com - News 4 - January 30th, 2021 [January 30th, 2021]
- Contract approved to fence Oceanside railroad tracks - The San Diego Union-Tribune - January 30th, 2021 [January 30th, 2021]
- PHOTOS: New initiative helping Wyoming landowners fix fences to protect wildlife - Oil City News - January 15th, 2021 [January 15th, 2021]
- Fences and neighbors - The River Reporter - January 15th, 2021 [January 15th, 2021]
- Emma Thompson to Hurl You Over the Fence as Miss Trunchbull in Netflixs Musical Matilda - Vulture - January 15th, 2021 [January 15th, 2021]
- Mitten fence helping hundreds in Buffalo stay warm this winter - WKBW-TV - January 15th, 2021 [January 15th, 2021]
- The perfect symbol of the Trump years - CNN - January 15th, 2021 [January 15th, 2021]
- Building a Fence: Washington and the Magnificent Seven - UW Dawg Pound - January 15th, 2021 [January 15th, 2021]
- Mining Weekly BHP puts up wind fence in WA - Creamer Media's Mining Weekly - January 15th, 2021 [January 15th, 2021]
- Woman dies after driving through fence onto I-15 in Beaver - KSL.com - January 15th, 2021 [January 15th, 2021]
- Maserati driver smashes through fences, tree and shed - KOIN.com - December 21st, 2020 [December 21st, 2020]
- The story behind the painted fences & sheds in one Lake Grove neighborhood - GreaterMoriches - December 21st, 2020 [December 21st, 2020]
- On the fence: Messages of hope on display in downtown Nashua - The Union Leader - December 21st, 2020 [December 21st, 2020]
- Across the Fence: and Peace on Earth - The Suburban Times - December 21st, 2020 [December 21st, 2020]
- City fixes Cameron Heights fence after deaths of several deer and years of complaints - CBC.ca - December 21st, 2020 [December 21st, 2020]
- See Austin Condo Tower Construction Up Close With 'Beyond the Fence' Episode 2 - TOWERS Austin - December 21st, 2020 [December 21st, 2020]
- Vaccine hesitancy and COVID-19: How many will stay on the fence? - Windsor Star - December 21st, 2020 [December 21st, 2020]
- Israeli forces carry out a land incursion and threaten to remove Palestinian farmers' crops - occupied Palestinian territory - ReliefWeb - December 21st, 2020 [December 21st, 2020]
- Tributes paid to 'lovely' and 'kind' dad who died after his car crashed into a fence - Manchester Evening News - December 21st, 2020 [December 21st, 2020]
- Straddlin' the Fence: Why should I vote? - Idaho Press-Tribune - October 30th, 2020 [October 30th, 2020]
- Visalia orders church to remove Black Lives Matter signs from 'prayer fence,' citing ordinance - Visalia Times-Delta and Tulare Advance-Register - October 30th, 2020 [October 30th, 2020]
- Fence to be installed around monuments in A'ville - Sand Mountain Reporter - October 30th, 2020 [October 30th, 2020]
- Gov. Ron DeSantis swings for the fences with early voting message to Florida Republicans - Florida Politics - October 23rd, 2020 [October 23rd, 2020]
- On the fence about Ballot Measure 1? Here are some facts to consider. - Anchorage Daily News - October 23rd, 2020 [October 23rd, 2020]