How should the US deal with China and India?
China
India
Not asserting itself as Asian regional hegemon
Not pressuring anti-China coalition
US can't expect India to fight its battle, therefore shouldn't bring India in the mix
India doesn't want to provoke China, and has a tenet of 'non-alignment,' ≠ won't align itself with US
the more pressure US gives on China, the more India will buck-pass that responsibility to US, which then buck-passes it back to India, constant buck-passing... but who ends up catching the buck?
extending economic benefits
already is doing so with US-India defense trades, India procuring US defense military technologies, maritime surveillance, etc.
the more benefits it extends, the more India would be 'dependent' on it (also would mean India can't have its cake and eat it too, for example transfer of intellectual property), fortifying economic and military cooperation on both ends
- US = ally and economic ties with nuclear state in Indo-Pacif
- India = reassuring own sense of security + strengthening own economy
foreign policy focused on technology
needs to recognize that India is a 'swing' state, and US shouldn't depend on it to fight against China
India is known for being big on technology; US having relations with India regarding that would both help economically and could be used military-wise
e.g. Biden administration's "Initiative on Critical and Emerging Technology"
- foster US-India cooperation on semiconductors (computer chips), AI, quantum technologies, next-gen telecommunications
knows that China is sensitive with US' involvement in Asian politics, the more US becomes present in economic and specifically military matters i.e. US-Taiwan relations and US' defenses regarding Taiwan straits
not saying US can't have ties with Asian countries, but not balancing power solemnly to US, an external power outside of the region...
shouldn't be sensitive to China's rise = accepting power and fortifying relations
with globalization, is normal that powers emerge and become great powers... why is China's growth any different?
- Is it like what Mahbubani said, that it's irrational Sinophobia, ethnocultural bias??
US businesses and national interests can be seen colliding with one another, where US businesses can generate US economic growth, generating economic growth as national interest...
wouldn't want to sour relations on US' national interest over US' political power a region away now...
Keeping up business in South China Sea
US' involvement is crucial for its maritime allies, and assuring security within the region is upheld; wouldn't want China to go again liberal international order, politically-speaking in respecting liberal values
Showing China that if it continues its coercive diplomacy, that US may retaliate with offensive strategies and power projection, modeled after 1980s Maritime Strategy →
- destroying PLAN fleet and associated island bases in South China Sea
- rapid blinding assault on Chinese mainland (to remove any Chinese capability for denying US access beyond the twelve nautical miles of the territory the US recognizes as Chinese)
seeing now being in nuclear shadow, any incident at sea can escalate to nuclear level, perhaps US' offense strategy as a response to China's own offense strategy" towards South China Sea, will keep defense as dominant, factor and not have South China Sea escalate into all out war