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Why India can’t put all its eggs in the American basket

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Geeta Mohan
Geeta MohanNov 01, 2017 | 10:49

Why India can’t put all its eggs in the American basket

The new world order is being challenged. Regional and international factors across the globe are affecting change that might be unacceptable to the powers that be.

Perhaps quoting Graham Allison’s theory on the inevitability of a violent clash between the US and China could explain the pulls and pushes that other nations have been experiencing.

In his book, Destined For War: Can America And China Escape Thucydides’s Trap? - Allison cites Athenian historian Thucydides, who had explained that “it was the rise of Athens and the fear that it instilled in Sparta that made war inevitable”.

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Similarly, Allison says, “Today, an increasingly powerful China is unravelling this order, throwing into question the peace generations have taken for granted.” 

With China emerging as a global leader and the uncertain, shifty American policy under Donald Trump, should India put all its eggs in the American basket or view the emergence of China as an opportunity, and not a threat? India and China are both considered the future "global powers". While, for now, it is the US; the real issue isn't where nations are today, but where they will be tomorrow. 

china-india-body_103117082623.jpg
India and China are both considered future 'global powers'.

A country grown knowing its nation as the supreme power has “American primacy” built in as part of their “nationalism” as opposed to being a statistic.

They defend it with a zealous fervour and are willing to put their faith on anyone who promises to violently protect that position. Hence, wars are justified, choosing nations over “human rights” and ostracising nations in the name of “national security” have become acceptable in practising foreign policy.

The fear of petro-dollars being replaced by alternatives being mulled over by Saudi Arabia and China; the alternatives to economic connectivity in initiatives such as the Belt and Road Initiative (BRI) by China; Iran standing up to America; North Korea withstanding American sanctions with help from China; China’s increasing power of influence in the African continent and the Indo-Pacific region are all areas of concern. And while America should do all it can to stop China’s unfair practices, India taking sides doesn’t help her case.

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America hasn’t done much to boost India’s “Make in India” dream, or to take out anti-India terror groups based in Pakistan. There have been warnings given to Pakistan but nothing more.

China has sided with Pakistan on issues such as Masood Azhar and the one thing that guarantees no change in Chinese stand is if we continue siding with US and not reach out to China. Both US and China use India and Pakistan respectively to further their regional interests.

India should stop viewing foreign policy, regional and global, through the Pakistani prism. If India is willing to compartmentalise sticking/unresolved issues and move forward in ties as in Italy’s case recently (not allowing Italian marines case to hold India-Italy ties hostage) then why can’t India work with China by compartmentalising the issue of Pakistan and dealing with it separately.

It is not without a reason that The Economist named Chinese President Xi Jinping “the world’s most powerful man”.

India has to balance its own ties with both US and China to ensure a seat at the global “high table” of economic and strategic prowess. Napoleon Bonaparte had made this prediction two centuries ago: “China is a sleeping lion. When China wakes up, the world will shake.”

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Last updated: November 02, 2017 | 12:33
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