Featured Donald Trump may not back India in case of conflict with China: Former US NSA John Bolton

[FOOLS_NIGHTMARE]

Former United States national security advisor John Bolton has said there is no guarantee that Trump would back India if the situation between Beijing and New Delhi escalates.
“I'm not sure how much he understands the significance of the border clash. I don’t think he knows anything about the history of these clashes over the decades between India and China. He may have been briefed on it, but history doesn’t really stick with him," Bolton said, in an exclusive conversation with WION, India’s first international news channel.

The former US NSA told Palki Sharma, WION's Executive Editor, “I don’t know which way he would go and I don’t think he knows either. I think he sees the geostrategic relationship with China for example exclusively through the prism of trade. And trade is important because China has stolen intellectual property from the United States and other countries, engaged in forceful technology transfers for decades and it forms a major part of their economic success and therefore military power. And that’s really how far it goes."
"I don’t know what Trump will do after the November elections once the guard rail is removed. He'll be back. He won't be criticising Beijing for putting Uyghurs in concentration camps or repressing Hong Kong. He will be back to the big China trade deal. So, if things were to develop between India and China in a more critical fashion, I'm not sure where he would come down," he added.
“Let me make sure, I have understood this right. That if things were to escalate between India and China at this moment, there is no guarantee that Donald Trump will back India against China?” Palki Sharma asked.
“That is correct," Bolton said, adding, “I think his gut instinct for the next four months is to take anything off the table that complicates what is already a difficult election campaign for him. So what he would want is quiet along the border whether it benefits China or India. From his point of view - no news is good news.”

 

[tower9]

If Indians think they are anything more than a pawn in this great game between the US and China, they are deluded.

Trump doesn't stick to anything. He has no convictions. He will move as opportunities present themselves.

 

[BATMAN]

US will not stay back, it will always lurk around the the region in case of urgent bail out of India from fame to larger shame.
Historically, US has always came to Indian rescue in all of it's arme dconflicts.
However the best way for US to save India is via Pakistani prime minister.

 

[Pandora]

LoL no shocker there bcz US wants to use India as a canon fodder against China. Why would US waste precious dollars and manpower when there is pompous arse dumb a$$ like Modi ready to do their bidding.

 

[ARMalik]

US is going to elections in November with the Presidential campaign already started. US will NEVER start a war or get into a war until this election campaign is over. Hence we are looking around 2021 for US to do anything. And if it Biden who gets elected, all this Anti-China rants will go away as Biden's family have huge trade interests in China.

 

[FOOLS_NIGHTMARE]

US is going to elections in November with the Presidential campaign already started. US will NEVER start a war or get into a war until this election campaign is over.

Best time for PLA to make a mark on Indian held territory!

 

[Makarena]

Donald Trump may not back India in case of conflict with China: Former US NSA John Bolton
Former United States national security advisor John Bolton has said there is no guarantee that Trump would back India if the situation between Beijing and New Delhi escalates.

Namrata Agarwal
Updated:
Jul 11, 2020, 09:57 AM IST

New Delhi: Former United States national security advisor John Bolton has said there is no guarantee that Trump would back India if the situation between Beijing and New Delhi escalates.

“I'm not sure how much he understands the significance of the border clash. I don’t think he knows anything about the history of these clashes over the decades between India and China. He may have been briefed on it, but history doesn’t really stick with him," Bolton said, in an exclusive conversation with WION, India’s first international news channel.

The former US NSA told Palki Sharma, WION's Executive Editor, “I don’t know which way he would go and I don’t think he knows either. I think he sees the geostrategic relationship with China for example exclusively through the prism of trade. And trade is important because China has stolen intellectual property from the United States and other countries, engaged in forceful technology transfers for decades and it forms a major part of their economic success and therefore military power. And that’s really how far it goes."

Watch video:

"I don’t know what Trump will do after the November elections once the guard rail is removed. He'll be back. He won't be criticising Beijing for putting Uyghurs in concentration camps or repressing Hong Kong. He will be back to the big China trade deal. So, if things were to develop between India and China in a more critical fashion, I'm not sure where he would come down," he added.

“Let me make sure, I have understood this right. That if things were to escalate between India and China at this moment, there is no guarantee that Donald Trump will back India against China?” Palki Sharma asked.

“That is correct," Bolton said, adding, “I think his gut instinct for the next four months is to take anything off the table that complicates what is already a difficult election campaign for him. So what he would want is quiet along the border whether it benefits China or India. From his point of view - no news is good news.”

HERE ARE A FEW EXCERPTS FROM THE INTERVIEW:

WION: Do you think things are developing for the worse between India and China? There is a lot of back and forth. The November elections are still a few months away. Do you think it could escalate to a limited conflict?

John Bolton: Well, I hope it does not at the present time because with four months to go for an American election, you are simply not going to get Donald Trump's attention. The fact is China has been behaving in a belligerent fashion, all around its periphery, certainly in the East and South China sea. Its relations with Japan has declined, with India, you are well aware of the facts there.

I think this is China’s effort to assert itself through not just political and military means but also through the Belt and Road initiative and others to gain increased sway over countries that have become economically dependent on it.

Sri Lanka has been subject to this death diplomacy and Pakistan and many countries in Central Asia. I think China has a grand strategy and it's pursuing it, the United States has been asleep at the switch and so have many other countries. It is time to wake up and talk more among ourselves. For example, trilateral been a big advocate of greater tri-lateral cooperation between India, Japan, and the United States and I think that makes a lot of sense.

WION: Why is China on a warpath with the world right now? What do you make of Xi Jinping's moves at a time like this? Why is he picking fights with the world in the middle of a pandemic?

John Bolton: It goes back before the pandemic. He sees American weakness when he sees Donald Trump and I think he is right. When Trump sits across the table with Xi Jinping or Vladimir Putin, it’s not a contest of equals. It always made me worry about what he might give away. The Pandemic has probably persuaded Xi Jinping to be more assertive to cover up as they have been covering up these past 6 months despite how bad the medical effect of the disease was in China and on the Chinese economy and what they did to cover up the source and consequence of the disease.”

It is indicative of the government we are dealing with in Beijing. They didn’t cooperate internationally and tried to use the World Health organization for their own purposes and I'm afraid largely succeeded.

WION: What happened after India's Balakot strikes on Pakistan? How did Trump and the White house assess the situation? What was conveyed to Delhi and Islamabad?

John Bolton: It took place when we were in Hanoi for the second summit with Kim Jong-un and both Mike Pompeo and me were there and away from our base of operations in Washington.

We spent hours on the phone with Ajit Doval and others in India and counterparts in Pakistan. My assessment was and I said publicly at the time and told Ajit as well - we thought India had acted in self-defence and the actions were appropriate and we think there were responsible steps to de-escalate what could have been a very serious crisis.

WION: The US president has repeatedly offered to mediate in Kashmir and he has been told it is a bilateral issue. Why does he keep repeating these offers?

John Bolton: (Laughs) You know, I can remember several times where I have explained India’s longstanding position on Kashmir and it just doesn’t sink in. There is no explanation for it. We tell him India thinks it’s a bilateral issue and it has to be resolved by negotiation with Pakistan. Donald Trump thinks everything is a deal and who better to mediate it than him and you are going to hear it again and if he wins, you are going to hear it for the next four years.

https://zeenews.india.com/india/don...-china-former-us-nsa-john-bolton-2294991.html


well, this tell a lot about India and Pakistan position in the American's eyes

 

[zectech]

Don't get fooled by neo-cons. They did the same to Saddam over a border dispute.

CONFRONTATION IN THE GULF; U.S. Gave Iraq Little Reason Not to Mount Kuwait Assault

https://www.nytimes.com/1990/09/23/...ittle-reason-not-to-mount-kuwait-assault.html

US state department told Saddam if Saddam attacked Kuwait, that the US would not get involved. So given the green light, Saddam attacked Kuwait.

If China is pushed into a corner on trade, then war would become appealing with india. For now, build up economy and military.

China should never listened to putin and given up the POWs. Now the indians think they won because they got their POWs back. putin is a traitor, an indian supporter.

 

[KeyBORED Warrior]

No worries, Dolaaand Trump will still favor Surrendra Modi as Modi pretty much put all his eggs in one basket by supporting Dolaaand Trump's campaign even before it started.

Surrendra pretty much sealed India's fate with his numerous masterstrokes over the last one year and they know it.

 

[OldenWisdom...قول بزرگ]

I don't think Indians get it... no one backs a loosing horse. Indians are loudmouths with slimy tongues. In past two decades they could have risen as a credible player but they stayed true to their nature.

Let me put it this way... even if Biden is elected this fall... He will not support India against China! U.S. simply will not fight a direct war for one of it's pet poodles. It will let it die at the alter... the only thing U.S. will be interested in is the efficiency of Chinese PLA in going about it's business and reliability of it's systems.

 

[Quibbler]

I like how all the armchair experts are jumping up and down here. Statements such as the above may surprise the uninitiated in geopolitics but nobody else. It would be stupid of anyone to assume that Indian decision makers don't understand Geopolitics and Realpolitik. We practically invented the Non-Alignment game and balance Iran, Saudi, Israel ,USA ,Russia relations simultaneously without being drawn into conflicts.

We are definitely not a very influential player globally, but there are arenas where we can change the balance of power.
India has a long history of distrust with the USA and we have a long way still to overcome that. However our interests are aligning and that has open doors for a lot of win-win lose(for 3rd parties) cooperation.

India tried the good neighbour approach with China, but now that China has effectively made that a non-option, it will be stupid of India not to gain benefits from tilting (not aligning) towards the USA. Does this this mean we expect a military alliance - NO, but if we can gain in terms of Tech, Economy and reducing Chinese influence in our spheres, heck why not.

Another point I want to add which can be debatable is that, i personally feel India bourgeoisie and the decision making aristocracy is too proud (maybe wrongly so) to go for a military alliance as it goes directly in the face out great ancient civilisation narrative.

 

[FOOLS_NIGHTMARE]

Let me put it this way... even if Biden is elected this fall... He will not support India against China! U.S. simply will not fight a direct war for one of it's pet poodles. It will let it die at the alter.

I completely agree with you, still deep inside the US cherishes a Indo-Chinese duel.

It is NOT over; rather it is just starting!

Only a FOOL will deny it.

 

[KeyBORED Warrior]

The most accurate meme regarding the whole thing.

 

[Riz]

US will not stay back, it will always lurk around the the region in case of urgent bail out of India from fame to larger shame.
Historically, US has always came to Indian rescue in all of it's arme dconflicts.
However the best way for US to save India is via Pakistani prime minister.

Tujy agar kabzi bhi ho jay to PM ka name zaror laina

 

[BATMAN]

Tujy agar kabzi bhi ho jay to PM ka name zaror laina

Jab Imran Kha ko kabzi ho to wo TV pe kis ka nam leta he.. sab ko pata he.
BTW, getting personal is only allowed to moderators. So take care.