BANGLADESH INSTITUTE OF INTERNATIONAL AND STRATEGIC STUDIES

THE“INDIA FACTOR” IN SINO-AMERICAN RELATIONS

Author: Upendra Choudhury

DOI Link: DOI: https://www.doi.org/10.56888/BIISSj2011v32n1a4

ABSTRACT

As India rises as a major world power, two divergent perceptions are beginning to dominate the policy-making circles in both China and the US. According to the Chinese, India’s recent behaviour clearly proves that it is joining an anti-China alliance with the United States and the Americans are recruiting the Indian tiger to hedge against the rising Chinese dragon. The US India nuclear deal and the warming strategic relationship between the two countries are in this context viewed as part of Washington's global strategic calculations. The Americans on the other hand, are worried of the recent warming of Sino-Indian relationship such as improving economic and trade ties, closer coordination on some common global issues, more frequent diplomatic exchanges and the emergence of a Russia-China-India axis that could counter the alleged US hegemony in the world. This paper examines the merits of these perceptions and explores the reasons why, contrary to common perceptions, India would continue to follow an independent foreign policy posture towards both the US and China.