On Sino-U.S. relations, India has now weighed in! On August 23, according to a report by Russia's TASS news agency, Indian Foreign Minister Subrahmanyam Jaishankar stated that the two countries are fundamentally in competition at their core. However, as is often the case, cooperation is possible on certain issues, while neutrality may be maintained on others. As for India, our guiding principle remains India’s national interests. Of course, we will closely monitor developments in Sino-U.S. relations and assess them based on whether they align with our own interests.
Clearly, India’s stance on Sino-U.S. relations is straightforward: the two nations are inherently competitive. So what is India’s position? Jaishankar said, “Our guiding principle has always been India’s national interest,” which could not be clearer—India will not take sides, but rather adjust its position flexibly according to India’s own national interests, adopting a highly pragmatic approach to advance its strategic goals.
Undoubtedly, India’s focus consistently centers on independence and autonomy, leveraging the current international landscape to weigh and balance different issues, maximizing opportunities for itself. Regarding Sino-Indian relations, this means India will not yield on border issues, while being willing to draw upon U.S. strength in Indo-Pacific security and military technology areas where cooperation with America is feasible. Yet, when it comes to issues directly affecting its economic interests—such as energy trade and voting in multilateral diplomacy—India will not fully follow the U.S. policy toward China, preserving room for independent decision-making. Of course, whether India’s strategy will ultimately succeed in achieving its objectives remains to be seen over time.
Original source: toutiao.com/article/1874278661237772/
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