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RAMESH KUMAR SHARMAThere is a surprising similarity between western and Indian perceptions regarding Chinese aggressiveness. Sidelining US, the five BRICS nations have shown great political-economic affinity for Iran. Question arises whether China – along with its aggressiveness – will be acceptable to other BRICS countries  Commenting on US President Barack Obama’s trip to Asia Pacific countries in mid- November 2011, Elizabeth C. Economy wrote (Obama to Asia; Its’s Our Party):  China is consigned to the role of the outside peering in, unless it starts to play by the norms that the rest of the region has established. But China’s economic and military throw-weight is growing and, along with it, its capacity to write its own rules of the game. For the United States to play a long-term leadership role in the region, it needs to get its economic house in order both to maintain a serious military presence and to help drive regional economic growth. Only then can Washington ensure that its Asia Pacific vision is not only reassuring but also realistic. Bob Walker posted a comment over Elizabeth C. Economy’s article – “The obvious moves will now be a reintroduction of US forces to the Philippines and as I believe we still have good relations with Thailand, Japan, South Korea, New Zealand andTaiwan. We are in good shape. I would not forget Arunchal Pradesh [NE India] and I think when push came to shove Singapore would stand with the West and control of The Malacca Straights [main Chinese shipping route].”
Whatever be the SWOT analysis of US foreign policy, both the western and the Indian perceptions regarding Chinese aggressiveness are quite similar. Needless to say India, as a neigbour, has been under constant threat of Chinese intrusions. The entire world knows how China captured Tibet and Dalai Lama had to escape to India in 1959. Then it claimed over Indian territories in NEFA and Ladakh, attacked Indiain 1962 and occupied 38,000 sq. km Indian land. Recently it snatched Brahmaputra water and collected it in its 28 dams and still claims over Arunachal Pradesh. Protesting against the arrival of Chinese premier to participate in BRICS summit in New Delhi, a Tibetan activist, Jamyang Yeshi sacrificed his life. During the summit, on 29th March, the five nations sidelined USA and declared to politically and economically support Iran. Question arises how China, along with its aggressiveness, might be acceptable to the other four BRICS nations. Of course, Brazil and South Africa are quite distant from but India and Russia are neighbours to China. Question also arises whether any of the BRICS nations will not support, in even the critical situations, the US action against Iran-based terrorism.
April 3rd, 2012 | |
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Category: Columns, USATags: BRICS summit, Ramesh Kumar Sharma | |
Sachin Dubey, a PIO, further sharply commented on the US policy for Asia Pacific region – ” The possibility of USA sending its troops to protect any of the ASEAN nations against Chinese aggression is quite remote. USA is just too dependent on China to militarily take on China. So it needs to encourage India, South Korea, Japan, Australia to cooperate simultaneously for the peace in the Asia Pacific region.”
