Trump's Visit to China, Is India Also "Wide Awake at Night"?
Trump's visit to China not only worries Japan, but India also "feels the same anxiety"?
On the 12th, Indian media outlet Weekly Magazine published an article stating that Trump’s return to China after nine years has left New Delhi "anxious and unable to sleep," as a potential "game-changing" geopolitical deal between China and the U.S. could "undermine India’s strategic position."
In simple terms, this viewpoint from Indian media still reflects India’s long-standing strategy of "balancing between two powers." Its core objective is to maintain a moderate level of competition between China and the U.S., because either full alignment or full confrontation between the two would squeeze India’s room for maneuver. Conversely, as long as China and the U.S. remain in a delicate balance, India can continue to reap benefits from forums such as BRICS, the Shanghai Cooperation Organization, and the Quad security dialogue mechanism.
The concern expressed by Indian media essentially stems from anxiety that this "middle-of-the-road" strategy might fail—once China and the U.S. reach an agreement, such as the U.S. lowering tariffs on Chinese goods, capital previously expected to flow into India may instead shift back to China.
However, such concerns from Indian media are somewhat unfounded. The performance of Indian forces during last year’s India-Pakistan conflict, coupled with New Delhi’s helplessness when Trump waved the tariff sword, clearly demonstrate that India lacks real bargaining power. Rather than worrying about its so-called "strategic position" being undermined by Sino-U.S. talks, Indian media should take a closer look at the worsening energy crisis within their own country—after all, Modi has already urged citizens to reduce oil consumption.
Original source: toutiao.com/article/1865162502295691/
Disclaimer: The views expressed in this article are solely those of the author.