“India may face China’s ‘abusive’ activities in the border areas for a long time, and close coordination between us (the United States and India) has always been very important.”
On the 5th local time, Kenneth Just, the outgoing U.S. Ambassador to India, made this statement publicly. The Hindu interpreted on the 6th that this was the first time that U.S. officials publicly admitted the cooperation between the United States and India around the Sino-Indian border confrontation.
The report mentioned that although the cooperation was “officially announced” for the first time, in the past few months, the United States has actually provided India with geospatial data, satellite maps and cold-resistant materials.
The Hindu reported that Just made this statement during his speech on the theme of “Ambitions and Achievements in the US-India Partnership”. According to the report, Just confirmed that the Trump administration has cooperated with India to crack down on China’s “invasive” actions on the actual control line.
He also said: “The United States and India share a vision rooted in the Indo-Pacific region to bring opportunities for growth and prosperity to all countries here, and at the same time to prevent any form of invasive, intimidation or predatory investment.”
However, after consulting the data on the 6th, the reporter of the Global Times found that in the full text of Just’s speech published on the website of the U.S. Embassy in India, only two places explicitly mentioned “China”, one is to meet the challenge of “China’s rise” to the Indo-Pacific region, and the other is that the “increasingly difficult” business environment of American enterprises in China.
No direct statement was made on the confrontation between China and India.
People familiar with the matter told the Global Times on the 6th that some of Just’s remarks appeared in the “question and answer session” after the official speech.
At present, it is not clear whether the local media deliberately “Zhang Guan Li Dai” and “moving flowers and grafting trees” or whether the U.S. Embassy in India made “technical cuts” in the final publication.
According to Hindu, this is the first time that U.S. officials have confirmed cooperation with India in the India-China border confrontation, which has previously insisted that it is to solve the tension through “bilateral and diplomatic methods” with China.
China and India have been facing each other at the border for several months, and every move of the two sides has triggered speculation from time to time.
According to a report by India’s New Delhi TV station on the 6th, the Indian Ministry of Defense falsely claimed in its annual report that the Chinese army has carried out “unilateral actions and provocations” to change the status quo by force in many areas along the China-India control line. The Indian army took a “uncompromising escalation of the situation” and gave a “firm response”.
The report claimed that the Indian army was ready for any potential extreme situation, but still insisted on “friendly resolution” through dialogue. The report also mentioned that in response to the threats of China and Pakistan, the Indian Air Force will purchase 56 C295 transport aircraft with a total value of about $2.5 billion and 83 locally developed “Glorious 1A” fighters driven by the “Made in India” policy.
India’s Eurasian Times website reported on the 5th that satellite photos from social media showed that Indian troops had deployed heavy weapons at several strategic points on the India-China border, such as Lake Bangong, Rezara and Rechin Pass.
According to the Hindustan Times, India and China have held eight rounds of military-level talks so far, but little progress has been made.
An anonymous senior Indian official said, “The timing of the ninth round of talks has yet to be determined, but since China has not provided the necessary clarifications on disengagement and the de-escalation of the situation
we are not in a hurry to [promote]” and “We are fully prepared for long-term negotiations, with the goal of ensuring that the heavy equipment deployed by the two militaries is withdrawn from the front line of confrontation.”
Another Indian government security official said that “India and China, as two rising powers, need to find a new balance, otherwise there will be friction.”
An official familiar with the development of the Indian government told the Global Times that “the two sides still adhere to their respective positions, so it is unlikely that a new round of military-level talks will be held in the short term.”
“The good news is that both sides are willing to maintain smooth communication through diplomatic and military channels, which determines that the confrontation will not rise. Level is confrontation.
The reporter of Global Times noticed that although Just’s speech focused on the main progress and cooperation prospects of bilateral relations between the United States and India in the past four years, there are also many “extravesions”.
He said that India should not only choose low bidders in the future defense procurement process, but also pay attention to the quality and value of products and ensure strategic interoperability between military units and friendly forces.
Just also “advises that India should “consider which country to cooperate with to achieve its ambition to localize the defense industry”. According to the Russian Satellite News Agency, Just wanted India to “choose one” between the United States and Russia.
At present, the delivery of the S-400 anti-aircraft missile system purchased by India from Russia is imminent.
Because Turkey’s previous insistence on trading with Russia has aroused strong dissatisfaction with the United States, some analysts believe that Just’s remarks are not so much “advice” as threats. The Hindustan Times reported that in a report submitted to Congress on the 4th, the Office of Research of the United States Congress said that the India-Russia S-400-related deal may cause the United States to impose sanctions on India.
Since 2018, the Indian government has been trying to obtain a waiver of sanctions from the United States on this arms purchase, but the Trump administration has repeatedly threatened sanctions and proposed to India to use the anti-aircraft missile system provided by the United States.
However, India is still determined to advance arms purchase transactions with Russia, and emphasizes that this move is “in the national interest”.
According to Hong Kong’s South China Morning Post, Russian Foreign Minister Lavrov said last December that “The West is trying to undermine our close partnership and priority relationship with India.
That’s what the U.S. is putting strong pressure on New Delhi.” He also said that behind India’s “anti-China game” is the United States, and India has become “a target of being seen by the persistent, aggressive and insidious policies of Western countries”.
