US to India: Get assertive with China

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The United States on Wednesday sought to enlist Indian cooperation in its global strategy to contain China, with secretary of state Hillary Clinton urging New Delhi to go beyond its “Look East” policy and play “a more assertive” role in the Asia-Pacific region. Her remarks in the backdrop of President Barack Obama’s recent

meeting with the Dalai Lama, in open defiance of Beijing’s strong protests, are being seen as part of America’s strategy to contain China’s rising geopolitical and economic influence.
Ms Clinton, addressing a large gathering of students and opinion-makers on her maiden visit to Chennai on Wednesday, said: “We encourage India not just to look East but to engage East and act East. And its leadership in South and Central Asia is critically important.”
She accepted that the role she was asking India to play was ambitious, saying: “Yes, it is an ambitious agenda; but we can afford to be ambitious.”
The US concern with the growing Chinese influence in the region was apparent when Ms Clinton declared that it was time for India to lead by integrating economically with neighbours like Afghanistan and Pakistan and “take a more assertive role across the Asia-Pacific”, besides pressuring Burma on the question of Aung San Suu Kyi and other political prisoners. Pointing to the huge market strength of India with its 1.3 billion people, she said: “We are betting on India’s future, betting on the opening of India’s markets to the world that will produce a more prosperous India and South Asia.”
She said Washington was “betting that India’s vibrant pluralistic society will inspire others to follow a similar path of tolerance. We are making this bet not out of blind faith, but because we have watched your progress with great admiration.” Ms Clinton added: “India is today taking its rightful place in meeting rooms and conference halls where the world’s consequential questions are debated and decided.” She said she was “encouraged” by India and Pakistan deciding to restart their peace talks.
Calling for the creation of a “new silk road” to help Afghanistan, she said: “Helping people see regional neighbours as potential customers rather than adversaries is an important first step toward building a broad-based constituency for peace and profitable coexistence.”
Ms Clinton said India and the US can play a major role in enhancing maritime security and combating piracy in the Apec region. Asking India to be America’s ally in Asean forums and a planned East Asia Summit later this year, she called for Indian collaboration in disaster readiness, nuclear proliferation issues and a trilateral dialogue with Japan.
Allaying India’s fears that the US decision to withdraw troops from Afghanistan could help Islamist elements in Pakistan taking advantage of the power vacuum in that war-torn country, Ms Clinton said: “Withdrawing is not the same as disengaging... We will continue targeting terrorists and supporting the Afghan Army and police.”