Modi's Comments on China a Warning Shot for US, Analysts Say

Prime Minister Narendra Modi's recent comment on China, that too to an American publication, represents a warning for the Biden administration as it increasingly irritates India on issues pertaining to human rights, elections and the Khalistan matter among others, Indian veterans have told Sputnik India.

"The fact that Modi made his statement to an American publication indicates that he intends to send a message to the US and western bloc to not pressure India on various issues. The message would be not to preach human rights or democracy to India," said Commodore (retired) Seshadri Vasan, the Director General of Chennai Centre for China Studies (C3S), one of the few China-focussed think tanks in the country.

"Modi has indicated to the US that India and China might reconcile their differences. The US shouldn't underestimate India's will to normalise its relations with China. The US should be careful to not drive India in China's arms, the same way Beijing pushed New Delhi to develop closer ties with the US following the Galwan Valley clashes in June 2020," stressed Vasan.

Vasan said that the Biden's administration should be careful in not crossing India's "red lines" time and again in spite of repeated warnings by New Delhi.

"With a strong party in power in India for the next five years, there is a strong possibility of Russia-India-China trilateral mechanism being revived and reinvigorated," the China-watcher said, adding that such a prospect would depend on normalising of ties between Beijing and New Delhi.

Vasan noted that US Indo-Pacific Strategy, Biden’s National Security Strategy (NSS) as well as North Atlantic Treaty Organisation’s (NATO) ‘Strategic Concept’ all relied on putting together a network of partners and allies to contain China’s rise.

Brigadier V Mahalingam (Retd), a former commander of a Mountain Brigade and former Force Commander of the National Security Guard, echoed Vasan's views.

"Modi’s statement may be intended to convey to the US that its policies on global issues are not to the liking of India, when compared to those of China. The US policies in Gaza, Ukraine, the confiscation of Russian assets, renewing relations with Pakistan with a view to contain and hurt countries of the region and the Iran sanctions are not to India's liking," Mahalingam said.

"At the same time, China's, as well as Russia's, positions on these issues are in line with Indian thinking," the veteran underscored.

Mahalingam said that the common approach of China, India and Russia to not interfere in internal matters of other countries was much more conducive to global peace and stability.

"A India-Russia-China approach in the world, especially in the Global South, as well as regions such as the Middle East, Southeast Asia and Eurasia, are bound to bring about much cooperation and peace in the world," he stated.

Indian Prime Minister Narendra Modi, center, Russian President Vladimir Putin, right, and Chinese President Xi Jinping stand for photographs prior to dinner hosted by Modi for leaders of BRICS nations in Goa, India, Oct.15, 2016

The Way Forward on China-India Border Row

Mahalingam stressed that Modi's comment didn't indicate a change in India's position on the ground in eastern Ladakh region, which is disengagement of troops and restoration of status quo ante as it existed before April 2020.

Vasan, for his part, said that Modi's comment to Newsweek represents a "big political statement" by the Indian leadership ahead of the Lok Sabha election.

"Modi has sent a message that India stood ready for normalising ties with China. But talks around disengagement and de-escalation are still going to be very sensitive at the ground-level," the think tanker said.

He noted the statements by Prime Minister and External Affairs Minister S Jaishankar about China not occupying any Indian territory.

"There may be other issues which possibly are being negotiated, including the question of patrolling rights and buffer zones, at the undemarcated border," Vasan said.

Vasan highlighted that despite the border tensions, trade between China and India had been hitting record levels year after year, scaling $136.2 billion in 2023.

China's top diplomat in India, Charge D’Affaires Ma Jia, has said that overall ties have been on upswing following the meeting between Prime Minister Modi and President Xi Jinping on the sidelines of the BRICS Summit in Johannesburg last August.

Vasan also said that India had been a major beneficiary of West-backed 'China+1' Strategy, particularly pointing to the Apple's surging production in India as it seeks to move manufacturing out of China.

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