Jade
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The US is pushing India to lift its role in Asia as one of the continents leading democracies and largest economies at a time when the region is becoming increasingly anxious about a more assertive China.
Ahead of US President Barack Obamas visit to India early next month, senior US government officials said on Monday they wanted India to take a more active role outside of its immediate south Asian region, in trade and political and security co-operation.
We view India as an east Asian power, said one official. India is not limited to the context of its immediate neighbourhood.
India has so far not been included in emerging east Asian institutions, which loosely bind China, Japan and South Korea with south-east Asian nations and the US and Australia.
The US comments coincided with a visit by Manmohan Singh, Indias prime minister, to Japan on the first leg of a Look East tour that will also take him to Vietnam and Malaysia this week.
Mr Singh and Naoto Kan, Japans prime minister, concluded negotiations on a economic partnership agreement, paving the way for increased Japanese investment in the fast growing Indian economy.
Indian leaders have expressed fears the country is being hemmed in by Beijings expanding political and trade ties with Pakistan, Burma, Nepal and Sri Lanka.
Certainly China is a topic of active discussion between our governments, said a US official. We dont have identical concerns.
New Delhi has also aired its worries about Washingtons relationship with Beijing. It was upset last year when a communiqué issued during Mr Obamas visit to Beijing offered China a role in south Asia.
New Delhi is particularly sensitive about Chinas ambitions in nuclear-armed Pakistan, its rising maritime might and border disputes in Arunachal Pradesh, Indias north-eastern state, and Kashmir.
US officials said inviting India to boost its role in Asia was not an attempt to rebalance Washingtons relationship with New Delhi and Beijing. But they said that India would have a larger part in Asian regional forums like the East Asia summit.
Although India is not expected to join the US as a defence ally, India has become the USs most frequent military exercise partner, conducting 50 exercises over the past eight years. US officials are keen to develop the inter-operability of Indias military hardware to allow support in anti-piracy, peace-keeping and humanitarian operations.
The US describes its relationship with India as having transformed exponentially under the presidencies of Bill Clinton, George W. Bush and now Mr Obama.
Source: Financial Times
_____________________
Terming India as an east Asian power would help India's ambition in realizing its long term goal of playing a global role. This is dramatic shift in US policy towards India
Ahead of US President Barack Obamas visit to India early next month, senior US government officials said on Monday they wanted India to take a more active role outside of its immediate south Asian region, in trade and political and security co-operation.
We view India as an east Asian power, said one official. India is not limited to the context of its immediate neighbourhood.
India has so far not been included in emerging east Asian institutions, which loosely bind China, Japan and South Korea with south-east Asian nations and the US and Australia.
The US comments coincided with a visit by Manmohan Singh, Indias prime minister, to Japan on the first leg of a Look East tour that will also take him to Vietnam and Malaysia this week.
Mr Singh and Naoto Kan, Japans prime minister, concluded negotiations on a economic partnership agreement, paving the way for increased Japanese investment in the fast growing Indian economy.
Indian leaders have expressed fears the country is being hemmed in by Beijings expanding political and trade ties with Pakistan, Burma, Nepal and Sri Lanka.
Certainly China is a topic of active discussion between our governments, said a US official. We dont have identical concerns.
New Delhi has also aired its worries about Washingtons relationship with Beijing. It was upset last year when a communiqué issued during Mr Obamas visit to Beijing offered China a role in south Asia.
New Delhi is particularly sensitive about Chinas ambitions in nuclear-armed Pakistan, its rising maritime might and border disputes in Arunachal Pradesh, Indias north-eastern state, and Kashmir.
US officials said inviting India to boost its role in Asia was not an attempt to rebalance Washingtons relationship with New Delhi and Beijing. But they said that India would have a larger part in Asian regional forums like the East Asia summit.
Although India is not expected to join the US as a defence ally, India has become the USs most frequent military exercise partner, conducting 50 exercises over the past eight years. US officials are keen to develop the inter-operability of Indias military hardware to allow support in anti-piracy, peace-keeping and humanitarian operations.
The US describes its relationship with India as having transformed exponentially under the presidencies of Bill Clinton, George W. Bush and now Mr Obama.
Source: Financial Times
_____________________
Terming India as an east Asian power would help India's ambition in realizing its long term goal of playing a global role. This is dramatic shift in US policy towards India
