China, US put India in a sticky situation

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India is finding itself in a difficult position, caught between the US and China, as the two superpowers race for supremacy in the Asia-Pacific region.

US defence secretary Leon Panetta’s meeting with Prime Minister Manmohan Singh here on Tuesday largely focused on the Asia-Pacific region.

Sources said Panetta discussed the growing attempts by China to increase its footprint in the region and elaborated 'on the US strategy of re-balancing towards Asia-Pacific'.

Incidentally, India, too, has been wary of China’s growing presence in the Indian Ocean region. New Delhi has also been unhappy with Chinese claims on the South China Sea.

The discussion on the Asia-Pacific region assumes significance given that Panetta had recently said that the Pentagon would, in the next 10 years, take steps that would ensure that 60 per cent of US battleships were positioned in the region. While he clarified that the move was not meant to contain China, Beijing isn’t happy.

India, US hold talks on AfPak, defence relations

Issues discussed between US defence secretary Leon Panetta and Prime Minister Manmohan Singh included bilateral relations, especially defence ties between the two countries.

The situation in the AfPak region was also touched upon given that 2014, when US-led Nato forces will with draw from Afghanistan, is fast approaching.

Sources said that cross-border terrorism also came up for discussion.

Panetta would have also asked Dr Singh to reduce India’s dependence on Iranian oil, they added.
Also discussed was America’s desire to resume the mission for recovering bodies of US military personnel who had died in air crashes during World War II in the North-East.

Panetta is scheduled to meet defence minister A.K. Antony on Wednesday. In a statement, the MoD said: “Ongoing defence cooperation and the regional security situation will figure prominently during the discussion that US defence secretary Leon Panetta will have with defence minister.”

It added, “Mr Panetta will lay a wreath at Amar Jawan Jyoti and will be presented a tri-services guard of honour at South Block. Mr Antony will also host a dinner in honour of the visiting dignitary.”

Panetta, who arrived in New Delhi on Tuesday, is also understood to have met National Security Adviser Mr Shivshankar Menon.