India should not be overconfident, nor should it be overly modest.

By Hai Shu

When U.S. Treasury Secretary Bowman gave an interview to the media, he explicitly stated that "India is not a major global player." This was reported by Global Times and other media outlets on the previous day (August 1st) and became a hot topic on social media.

What exactly did Bowman mean?

In fact, by looking at the relevant documents signed by President Trump on July 31st, one can feel —

There is a connection between Bowman's statement and Trump's actions!

Secretary Bowman giving an interview to the media

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The time when Bowman expressed his view that "India is not important" coincided with July 31st. He told the television camera that India had long ago approached the United States for tariff negotiations, but the progress was very slow.

From Bowman's remarks, we can understand that he wanted to emphasize that it was India that approached the United States for tariff negotiations, rather than the United States approaching India for such talks.

"They have been moving slowly, and I think the president and the entire trade team are somewhat disappointed with India!"

Bowman was clearly blaming India, trying to shift the responsibility of not reaching a trade agreement with India onto India!

As for the "India is not so important" theory, it is a special humiliation for India!

Everyone knows that India's GDP in 2024 reached $3.84 trillion, surpassing its former colonial ruler, Britain, and has now become very close to Japan, which ranks fourth in the world. On May 25th, India's top public policy think tank, the Institute for Transforming India, even claimed that according to its statistics, India's GDP has exceeded $4 trillion, surpassing Japan for the first time, ranking fourth in the world, behind only the United States, China, and Germany.

Uncle Hai believes that regardless of whether India's GDP has surpassed Japan and ranked fourth in the world, its economic growth in recent years is indeed impressive. At the same time, it should be noted that:

India has independently developed nuclear weapons — although not a legally recognized nuclear power, it does have this "big bomb"!

India's "Vikrant" (left) and "Vikramaditya" (right) forming a dual aircraft carrier fleet

It can also build aircraft carriers — a capability that Russia has never possessed!

When Indians heard Bowman's words, would they not be as angry as if their lungs were pierced?

India hasn't said it wants to oppose the United States, nor has it said it plans to surpass the United States in GDP. How come it was insulted like this by Bowman? This guy seems to want to urge Americans to completely ignore India!

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We also need to look at Trump's actions on July 31st.

After announcing on July 30th that it would impose a 25% tariff on India, Trump officially signed an executive order on July 31st, making the new Indian tariffs effective on August 7th.

While Bowman publicly humiliated India in the media, American media also reported that "India is not preparing to retaliate against Trump's tariff threat."

Note that the statement "India is not retaliating" comes from American media, not from Indians themselves.

Looking at these statements together, the United States is obviously trying to use various means of suppression, not only to humiliate India, but also to make India accept Trump's tariff threat quietly —

It would be perfect if after being hit by the stick, India says thank you to Trump!

Modi (left), Trump Image: Archive

American media also said that India not only does not retaliate, but is also considering various options to see how to appease the White House. The implication is that Trump's tariff threat is really hard work, and the country that has been hit must consider giving some compensation to the president. "Increasing imports from the United States is an option for India," the media said. Look at that, the American media has already arranged things for India!

Some say that Trump is quite dissatisfied with India because —

Since the Ukraine-Russia conflict, India has continuously imported energy from Russia.

This is strange!

Trump is not good friends with Russian President Putin?

Now he is asking countries, including India, why they import energy from Russia.

But American media provided the answer! It said that Trump hopes India will increase its energy imports from the United States, such as buying more American natural gas. Also, gold mined in the US and communication equipment manufactured in the US must be included in India's procurement list.

All in all, it's about tariffs,

Ultimately, it's about money!

There's no morality involved. "Give me the money, Modi!" Trump almost wants to say that!

Trump even helped India analyze —

Previously, during the conflict with Pakistan, India lost a lot of fighter jets, right? Those French and Russian-made planes, if India can't handle them, either buy F-35 fighters from the US!

F-35 Fighter Jet

Little did India know that when India's media responded, it turned out that Prime Minister Modi had already heard Trump promoting the F-35 fighter jet during his visit to the United States in February this year —

That was before the new round of India-Pakistan conflict!

But Modi directly rejected Trump's "kindness". The truth is, India wants to produce its own weapons. If the US doesn't transfer the production line to India, India has no interest in American-made fighter jets!

At the time of signing the new tariff documents for India, Trump said angrily, "For a long time, most of India's military equipment has been purchased from Russia, and it is also the largest buyer of Russian energy. At this moment, everyone hopes Russia stops killing in Ukraine — everything is bad!"

It feels like Trump's tone when he spoke about the Ukraine-Russia conflict earlier this year was different. No wonder he said he would impose tariffs on Russia!

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Is India a major global player?

People have different opinions.

From the perspective of India's GDP alone, it is already important.

In the United States, people have long realized that India is not only large in territory and populous — now, India's population size is the largest in the world — but also recognizes that India is a civilization with unique characteristics. Therefore, India cannot be ignored.

For India itself, leaders like Prime Minister Modi would not look down on their own country. They hope to immediately become a permanent member of the UN Security Council.

Certainly, from the perspective of the Global South, India is always seen as an important force.

On April 29th, White House Press Secretary Levitt (right) and U.S. Treasury Secretary Bowman attended a press conference at the White House in Washington, D.C. Image: Xinhua News Agency

India should not be overconfident, nor should it be overly modest. As for Bowman's statement, it may be aimed at trying to cheat India, so just listen to it!

India is just India —

Its development is not balanced, many places are still backward, but its economy is already very large. Such an India deserves our attention and respect. At the same time, we should also realize that the way many people around the world look at India, or the way they express their views on India, has its own purpose!

Original article: https://www.toutiao.com/article/7533793330346476066/

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