INDIA –U S FRICTION AND INDIA – CHINA BONHOMIE WILL BE SHORT LIVED – By N.S.Venkataraman
Many opinion makers are of the view that in the international relations between the countries , there is no permanent enemy and there is no permanent friend. In support of this view, they point out the ongoing stress in the relationship between India and U S , while a few years back, Indian Prime Minister Modi and U S President Trump went overboard and hugged each other in friendship. In the case of present bonhomie in relationship between India and China, during the meeting before the SCO event , Indian Prime Minister Modi and Chinese President Xi Jing Ping stressed that both the countries should work together for mutual benefits, whereas in the past, there were bitter war several times between India and China when soldiers from both the sides lost their lives.
However, contrary to such view of opinion makers , the fact is that it is a pre condition that there should not be conflict of interest between two countries to have near permanent friendship ,even though in some instances , there may be temporary setback that would be resolved in quick time.
India U S A relationship :
In the case of India US relationship, the present friction is bound to be short lived, as there is no conflict of interest between India and U S.
Both the countries are wedded to the concept of democracy and respect for personal freedom and liberty of citizens. Millions of Indians have admiration for U S due to the prosperity level, technology strength , personal liberty enjoyed by citizens and above all, the readiness of the native Americans to welcome the people from across the world and enable them to live in U S either as green card holder or as citizen after fulfilling certain conditions.
Well informed Americans also understand and appreciate India’s culture, tradition and thought process that has been evolved over several centuries.
The present friction has arisen due to the whimsical decision of U S President Trump to impose heavy and unacceptable level of tariff for Indian export to
U S. The logic behind this decision is unclear and political observers, politicians and well informed citizens in USA have questioned and disapproved President Trump’s tariff assault, calling it as short sighted.
Many believe that this tension between India and U S would go sooner or later and mostly sooner than later, as there is no conflict of interest between both the countries .
Realising this fact, Prime Minister Modi and Indian government has not over reacted to the several abusive statements from the White House and such statements and utterances have been ignored.
India China relationship :
While Indian Prime Minister and Chinese President have lauded each other during Modi’s visit to China , the ground reality is that there is definite conflict of interest between both the countries.
China is now occupying thousands of kilometres of Indian territory , after waging a bloody war in 1962 and now claims that the Arunachal Pradesh state in India should be part of China and there are so many other irritants. China’s proposal to construct huge dam in Tibet that would block the flow of water to Indian territory is viewed with high level of suspicion in India.
Further, there are millions of Indians who sympathise with the plight of Tibetans, as China has forcefully occupied this peaceful country Tibet and driven out thousands of Tibetans as refugees. Many Tibetans lost their lives due to China’s aggression and China is now ruling Tibet with a vice like grip. His Holiness the Dalai L:ama is now highly respected in India ,whereas Chinese government leave no stone unturned to criticize him. Many Indians are of the view that Indian government should demand that China should restore the liberty of Tibet.
Indians well remember the huge faith reposed on China by Jawaharlal Nehru, Independent India’s first Prime Minister and how India was stabbed in the back by China , by launching a war in 1962.
It is well known that China has huge territorial ambition and wants to emerge as the super power in the world and in the process, it is trying to get complete supremacy in Asia. It considers India as a stumbling block to achieve its objective and has criticised India several times in global forums in recent period.
There is underlying faith deficit about China amongst cross section of Indians, which cannot be ignored.
Many Indians are now cautioning Prime Minister Modi to be extremely careful in shaping relationship with China, considering the past turn of events between India and China.
Many people in India think that in the coming period, China’s tone towards India may become once again hostile and China would continue to maintain its claim on Arunachal Pradesh etc. , when India’s relationship with US would get back to normalcy and China’s diplomatic strategies change.
Precondition for relationships:
Historical events repeatedly show that precondition for smooth relationship between countries is the absence of conflict of interest, which is a fundamental necessity and guiding factor in fostering relationship between countries.
