Indo-China tensions: Why did America open its mouth on soldiers’ violent skirmishes so late?
There has been a late response from the US on the current state of tension between India and China. The United States has expressed its condolences while reacting on 19 June.
Violent clashes took place between Indian and Chinese soldiers in the Galvan Valley on the night of 15–16 June. The death of 20 Indian soldiers was confirmed in this violent clash, and no damage has been reported from China yet.
US Secretary of State Mike Pompeo responded, “We extend our deepest condolences to the people of India for the deaths caused by the recent conflict with China. We remember the families of these soldiers, their souls and communities at a time when they are mourning. “
Old experiences show that the United States has been reacting immediately to the situation of tension between India and China. From May 5, the current tensions between India and China have begun.
US President Donald Trump also offered to mediate in the last week of May. In the past, many times he has also offered mediation between India and Pakistan.
The US has always been vigilant about its strong diplomatic presence in South Asia, so it does not hold back from making such offers in the event of tensions between India-Pakistan or India-China.
But in view of the increasing influence of China in the region for the last several years, it seems that America seems to be skeptical about its position in the region.
Jonathan Marcus quoted a report from the US Department of Studies at the University of Sydney, “For a long time experts have been saying that China is rapidly modernizing its military and is an emerging It is a superpower. But it seems that this analysis is too old now. China is not an emerging superpower but it has become a truly superpower. In many areas now China is challenging America. “
This report confirms that the US defense strategy in the Indo-Pacific region is “facing an unprecedented crisis” and that the US may be struggling to keep its allies against China.
According to this report, “America is no longer as dominant in the Indo-Pacific region and its ability to maintain a balance of power in its favour has rapidly declined.”
Conflict of interest between USA and China
Professor Sanjay Kumar Bhardwaj of the Center for South Asia Studies at JNU talks about India-China relations and America’s diplomatic-political interests in the South Asian region in detail while focusing on several points.
He explains, “For the last six-seven years, China has been instigating India on many issues. The internal decisions that India has taken are a reason for this. For example, the decision taken by Article 370, India and Ladakh to center. This is the attitude of China regarding the creation of a governed state. The second is that China has been trying for six-seven years to engage India with its belt and road project. They are coming up with different proposals for this. China is really looking at establishing itself fully in the entire market of South Asia including India. The middle class is rapidly emerging in this market of 1.6 billion people. Through this project they can easily reach this market. “
He says, “Among the controversial areas of South Asia, Tibet and Xinjiang, China also wants to increase connectivity with India and develop infrastructure so that China can feel relief if there is any problem in these areas.” “Now the problem is that America is worried about this ambitious Belt and Road project of China as well as India. America does not want China’s dominance in South Asia to increase.”
What does America want from India?
But despite this concern, Sanjay Bhardwaj believes that China and India consider each other to be their allies because the interests of both are also interlinked. At the same time, however, India wants that China’s influence is minimized in this process.
He says, “But the United States has been trying for some time to get India to join the Indo-Pacific alliance. Under this came the concept of the Quad (The Quadrilateral Security Dialogue). America wants to keep India under its influence.” Now it has become clear in the last few years that there is a situation of cold war between America and China and in this America sees the possibility of serving its interests inside India. The strategic partnership has been strengthened over the years. The civil nuclear agreement of 2005 and the Logistics Agreement of 2016 were in keeping with this. China is angry with these things. “
Professor Sanjay Bhardwaj further says, “Meanwhile, the United States wants that there can be no consensus between India and China on any sort of mutual interest and the situation of confrontation remains. A few days ago the US also offered mediation. In the current situation, the United States is trying to see to what extent this tension between India and China is going. Therefore, it is giving its statement carefully about this tension. “
America wants to improve relationship with China?
The United States has also been trying to improve its relationship with China due to Corona in recent times. Should we see the delayed response of the United States as well?
On this, Professor Sanjay Bhardwaj says that in America and China, there is no conflict with any one issue. Therefore, not only Corona but trade and all other issues are also in dispute between them, whether it is Hong Kong, Taiwan or Tibet. So, it is difficult to say.
Is American election also an important issue?
Former US National Security Advisor John Bolton’s book ‘The Room Where It Happened’ states that US President Donald Trump tried to get help from Chinese President Xi Jinping to get re-elected president.
His book states, “Trump was also making deals with China to increase his chances of being re-elected president. Trump wanted China to buy agricultural products from American farmers.”
So can America’s late response be seen in this way as well?
Professor Sanjay Bhardwaj says, “Every ruler takes care of the election. Certainly Donald Trump also does not want his relationship with China to have any effect on his election. Chinese people are in good numbers in America.” Indians are also in good numbers. That is why elections are a big issue. “They say that if Donald Trump wants to win the election again, the support of the Chinese as well as Indians will have to be taken care of.
