Clear signals: On India-China ties and the new global currents

News: The Chinese Foreign Minister, Wang Yi claimed that the U.S. Indo-Pacific strategy is aiming to create “an Indo-Pacific version of NATO”. His statement has deeper interpretations for India.

Challenges in India-China Relations?

Revival of QUAD (called as “Asian NATO” by China) having Australia, Japan, U.S. and India as member.

However, apart from this, U.S. is also Strengthening the Five Eyes (An intelligence alliance), formed other exclusive clubs like AUKUS as well as the USA is also tightening bilateral military alliances.

How these developments impact India-China relations?

China is continuously situating India as a part of the U.S. “exclusive club” by targeting Quad.

Beijing’s also making aggressive moves along the LAC in 2020 as a warning sign to deter India-U.S. relations.

Some experts view China’s aggressive moves along the LAC in 2020 as a warning sign to deter India-U.S. relations.

Consequences of ongoing geopolitical developments

How has India responded to China?

New Delhi has rejected the claims of China about India. India’s External Affairs said “interested parties” were making a “lazy analogy of an Asian NATO” and India was not a U.S. treaty ally.

In response, India has been continuously deepening ties not only with the U.S. and the Quad but also other Indo-Pacific partners to underline it will not be swayed.

Russia being common friend of both China and India: Both Russia and China claimed to have “rock solid” relationship on a summit on February 4. China backed Russia on its concerns on NATO’s eastward expansion in Europe, and Russia returned the favor with both criticizing the U.S. Indo-Pacific strategy.

Source: This post is based on the article “Clear Signals: On India-China ties and the new global currents” published in the Hindu newspaper on 09^th March 2022.