India today finds itself in a very
precarious situation. USA, the eminent superpower has been steadily growing its
relation; be it through arms deals or helping India gain access to nuclear tech
through the nuclear deal. On the other hand there is China; a country which
feels it’s time has come to become the next superpower. Though China has always
seemed somewhat hostile towards India; recent developments suggest that China
has started to understand that the more India leans towards the US, the more
difficult it will be for China to flex its muscles in Asia. Historically India
has followed the policy of non-alignment, but those were the days of Cold War.
Today’s India is a more outward looking nation, which itself wants to make a
mark on the world. So is it possible for New Delhi to remain aligned in today’s
world?
Leon Panetta, US Defence
Secretary, on his recent visit to India said that US is keen on allowing India
access to cutting edge military equipment and it is also considering joint
development of arms and ammunition with India. Panetta was on a weeklong Asia
tour to meet allies and spell out the new US defence strategy which seeks to
shift US strategic focus towards Asia-Pacific. The US considers India as the
linchpin in this strategy. US sees India playing a major role in strategic affairs
of south and south east Asia. Both countries have been working hard on
improving their military relationship. The annual naval exercise ‘Malabar’ has
become one of the key areas of co-operation between the two countries navy’s.
On the arms sales front, US knows how important a market India is for its
companies. India happens to be the world’s biggest arms importer and plans to
spend around $100 billion over the next ten years to modernize its armed
forces. US realizes that arms deals are a key way to win India’s support and
hence it considers this as a priority area of cooperation. US is going all out
to woo India on this front by promising access to hi-tech arms as well as
cutting the red tape.
On the same day when Leon
Panetta, met with Defence minister A K Anthony; the external affairs minister S
M Krishna was away in China holding talks with Vice Premier Li. Krishna assured
Li, who will soon become the Chinese premier, that for India better bilateral co-operation
with China is of utmost importance. The duo discussed trade and how economic
co-operation between the two Asian neighbours can be increased. Krishna had met
Li on the side-lines of the Shangai Cooperation Organization meet (SCO).
Krishna also expressed India’s interest in joining the six nation SCO. As India plans to give a major push to its infrastructure
development plans it will need significant investment from abroad and Chinese
companies might play an important role in this. India’s investments in South
China Sea are also a reason why it wants to improve its relation with China. In
a sign of growing momentum of bilateral ties, four Indian naval ships will dock
in Shanghai. This is being seen as a positive step in building trust between
the two nations.
Both US and China have realized
that India will play a major role in tomorrow’s world order and hence both are focusing on improving ties with it. The US already has good relations with
India, China on the other hand has had a very shaky relation given its hostile
nature. Border disputes, trade imbalance and now the South China Sea issue, all
these issues are possible impediments to any positive progress that the two
nations might embark upon. Washington has already expressed its keen interest
in helping India achieve its economic potential. Beijing, tough a little late,
too wants to partner with New Delhi as much as possible. New Delhi, in the
times to come, will have to take a tough decision. If it wants to continue with
its age old non alignment policy then it may have to carry out a difficult
balancing act between the two superpowers.
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