Friedman: India and Asian nations befriending US to ‘contain’ China?

[adatta]

A clever man you are.

keep your fight on... chinese don't accept defeat so easily... see other chinese are still keeping up the fight... come on you can

 

[RobbieS]

I think the Asian nations recent proximity towards the US while suggesting a certain fear of China also shows how US is still seen as the pre-eminent super power. While most Asian nations like India do not want to antagonize China and jeopardize their trade relations; they are to an extent, wary of China's increasing political might. And they are clamoring up for US support just so that they have a back-up in case China decides to exert military power. What could have made them think that China could do that? The article itself mentions a few example of political disputes where China has been exerting its influence. Nothing wrong in that if we talk about China. Every upcoming country that realizes its power will exert itself, India included. Notice how India is able to refuse to talk to Pakistan over Kashmir and at the same time get favors from the West.

From India's perspective, we might have to revisit Nehru's notes on the Non-aligned movement. Just replace USSR with China wherever applicable. We need to balance out our economic and political ambitions vis-a-vis The US and China.

 

[Chinese-Dragon]

I think the Asian nations recent proximity towards the US while suggesting a certain fear of China also shows how US is still seen as the pre-eminent super power. While most Asian nations like India do not want to antagonize China and jeopardize their trade relations; they are to an extent, wary of China's increasing political might. And they are clamoring up for US support just so that they have a back-up in case China decides to exert military power. What could have made them think that China could do that? The article itself mentions a few example of political disputes where China has been exerting its influence. Nothing wrong in that if we talk about China. Every upcoming country that realizes its power will exert itself, India included. Notice how India is able to refuse to talk to Pakistan over Kashmir and at the same time get favors from the West.

From India's perspective, we might have to revisit Nehru's notes on the Non-aligned movement. Just replace USSR with China wherever applicable. We need to balance out our economic and political ambitions vis-a-vis The US and China.

Having an "Independent foreign policy" is a good thing, and I hope that both China and India will maintain this position.

When the countries of the world set up on "opposing sides", it causes a lot of tension... and such situations can often lead to war. So it should be avoided if possible.

The future is all about cooperation, and I think that most countries already understand this. We've got the UN, the G20, the WTO, BRIC, and all these global organizations which are based on cooperation rather than hostility. This is certainly the way forward.

 

[RobbieS]

Having an "Independent foreign policy" is a good thing, and I hope that both China and India will maintain this position.

When the countries of the world set up on "opposing sides", it causes a lot of tension... and such situations can often lead to war. So it should be avoided if possible.

The future is all about cooperation, and I think that most countries already understand this. We've got the UN, the G20, the WTO, BRIC, and all these global organizations which are based on cooperation rather than hostility. This is certainly the way forward.

Definitely. I wont blow the hypothetical trumpet of India-China alliance taking on the world but co-operating as we have done in some summits (Copenhagen, if I am not mistaken) can do wonders.

And a bit off topic but India needs US as well. We need their technological advancements as much as they need us to jump-start their stagnant economy.

 

[adatta]

Having an "Independent foreign policy" is a good thing, and I hope that both China and India will maintain this position.

When the countries of the world set up on "opposing sides", it causes a lot of tension... and such situations can often lead to war. So it should be avoided if possible.

The future is all about cooperation, and I think that most countries already understand this. We've got the UN, the G20, the WTO, BRIC, and all these global organizations which are based on cooperation rather than hostility. This is certainly the way forward.

thats true for china's pak policy vis-a-vis india... but in real world its bound to happen.... otherwise there won't be any foreign ministry in any country...anyway your point is well taken as economy will drive the relations and all the equations in future...

 

[Chinese-Dragon]

And a bit off topic but India needs US as well. We need their technological advancements as much as they need us to jump-start their stagnant economy.

No problem with that, the USA is also China's biggest customer, so cooperation between all three is certainly a good idea.

Definitely. I wont blow the hypothetical trumpet of India-China alliance taking on the world but co-operating as we have done in some summits (Copenhagen, if I am not mistaken) can do wonders.

Absolutely. Copenhagen was just a small taste of what the future might look like... not just for Asia, but for the world too.

 

[RobbieS]

No problem with that, the USA is also China's biggest customer, so cooperation between all three is certainly a good idea.


Absolutely. Copenhagen was just a small taste of what the future might look like, not just for Asia, but for the world too.

And come to think of it, for all the pandering to India's ego that Obama did on his visit, if our technocrats and policy makers are realistic, they will understand that China is more important to US than India. US holds annual strategic discussions with China. It practically begs China to devalue its currency. It understands that China holds the largest dollar reserves. At the same time China is the country that US fears politically and in a few years, militarily. It tries to bad-mouth its human rights record, sights unfair practices and dangles carrots in front of China's neighbors to jump ship.

So whats the lesson for India from all that? If the US after so many disagreements and underlying hostilities can maintain cordial relations with China then so can we.

 

[Chinese-Dragon]

So whats the lesson for India from all that? If the US after so many disagreements and underlying hostilities can maintain cordial relations with China then so can we.

That's right.

Even Japan, which is considered the biggest historical enemy of China (they killed 20 million Chinese civilians in WW2), today has China as its largest trading partner.

I think this quote sums up my feelings on the matter:

"The only thing that will redeem humanity, is cooperation".

P.S. I'm not advocating the reduction of military spending or anything like that. As they say, you should carry a big stick as well. Just in case.

 

[prototype]

Well i think India can both engage china and U.S effectively

Historically India had remained non aligned or for better we can say we aligned with everyone.

Here we r a country who have Russia as its strategic partner,China as a big trade partner and U.S as its new found admirer.

We r a nation which had close relation's with a nation which controlled as for 200 yrs

At one hand India had good relation with Israel,on the other hand it had equally good relation with its arch enemy Iran and also sympathizes for Palestine

I think we can use our capability to bridge the distance between U.S and china and can erase the mistrust between them.

But for that first of all both nation India and china need to understand each other better,something both r not able to,or not interested in

 

[RobbieS]

That's right.

Even Japan, which is considered the biggest historical enemy of China (they killed 20 million Chinese civilians in WW2), today has China as its largest trading partner.

I think this quote sums up my feelings on the matter:

"The only thing that will redeem humanity, is cooperation".

Absolutely. If we give precedence to trade and relegate all other issues to the back-burner, we can all progress. It will improve relations at a diplomatic and at a people to people level.

Similar to China-Japan relationship you have the US-Vietnam trade relations. They are a pale shadow of the antagonistic times 30 years ago. And closer home, India's relations with the UK have treaded a similar path. And credit must go to Indian leaders who for all their economic short-sightedness didnt cling on to the past.

Another factor that has helped foster relations with erstwhile oppressors and colonizers for India and China is our 'people' factor. Our people are everywhere. They didnt give two hoots if the ancestors of the countrymen that they were dealing with were probably killers and murderers of their ancestors. They didnt mind going and setting up shops in UK, the US and Japan. They didnt mind importing machines and exporting cheap goods to these same countries. And they are now important factors in bilateral relations. Goes further to prove that if the governed are left to themselves they do a much better job at managing things that an organized form of government!

 

[Chinese-Dragon]

Another factor that has helped foster relations with erstwhile oppressors and colonizers for India and China is our 'people' factor. Our people are everywhere. They didnt give two hoots if the ancestors of the countrymen that they were dealing with were probably killers and murderers of their ancestors. They didnt mind going and setting up shops in UK, the US and Japan. They didnt mind importing machines and exporting cheap goods to these same countries. And they are now important factors in bilateral relations. Goes further to prove that if the governed are left to themselves they do a much better job at managing things that an organized form of government!

LOL that is so true. The Chinese and Indian overseas communities are the largest in the world, by FAR.

Also, Indians have no problem immigrating to Britain, and Chinese have no problem immigrating to Japan. No hard feelings and all that.

There is also a large Indian community where I live, in Hong Kong. In fact, several of my closest friends during secondary school were Indians as well.

 

[Abhishek_]

haha is this what is taught in Peking University??

post reported

 

[RobbieS]

LOL that is so true. The Chinese and Indian overseas communities are the largest in the world, by FAR.

Also, Indians have no problem immigrating to Britain, and Chinese have no problem immigrating to Japan. No hard feelings and all that.

There is also a large Indian community where I live, in Hong Kong. In fact, several of my closest friends during secondary school were Indians as well.

I am aware of Indians living in HK. Read about an interesting anecdote of an ex-WWII Sikh soldier in HK. He married a Chinese woman and settled in HK after his last tour of duty in the South-East. After India was defeated in the '62 war he said he lost his ability to boss her around the house. It was as if he had lost the war himself. .

And there is a large Chinese community in Canada as well where I lived for some years. In fact Chinese might be the third most spoken language in Canada, after English and French.

 

[humanfirst]

We are most profitable when we have good relation with china and usa.India is well aware of that and i dont think our policy makers dont form any sort of alliance with usa to contain china.

 

[adatta]

post reported

so Mr. volkswagen are u suffering from some chronic ego .... sparing you as u are holding my name!!!!