India needs to play proactive role

There is delicious irony in the fact that past US administrations, particularly during the Cold War, blocked India's aspirations to become a world power. India's pride was wounded. Although a founding member of the Non-Aligned Movement, India could not play a greater role in world affairs.

Things have, meanwhile, dramatically changed. The present US administration, financially drained with huge debt, wants "like-minded partners" to carry out, at least, part of its agenda in regions where its own reach is limited.

Mired in two wars — Iraq and Afghanistan — and a third undeclared one in Pakistan, where it is spending huge sums of taxpayers' money, the US is trying to persuade India to assume a proactive leadership role in world politics.

During her July visit to India, US Secretary of State Hillary Clinton openly urged India to wield its growing economic and political clout beyond its borders and help "shape the future of Asia and beyond".

US politicians drop subtle hints that India's leadership role would strengthen its chances of getting a permanent seat in the UN Security Council, the exclusive club on whose door India has knocked for decades to get admission.

But US critics say that India tends to hide behind platitudes and avoids taking a stand on global issues. They say India's stand on the Arab Spring is unclear and inconsistent.

This ambiguity, which also typically characterises India's stand on other vital issues, stems from a traditional wait-and-watch approach considered part of the ‘Indian way of doing things'.

But India knows that it cannot continue to take a cozy ringside seat and watch others fight in the international ring. As its economic and political power grows, India will be increasingly confronted with major global issues.

In comparison, China pursues its strategic interests aggressively. It has even created a strategic noose around India's neck by building up its presence in the South Asian theatre.

Critics say India's laid-back reaction to Chinese activities in its direct neighbourhood, is incomprehensible. Indian diplomacy believes that a low-key passive role in world politics is the best way to gain influence and minimise risks for India.

This view is, however, untenable in a world dominated by globalisation and self interests.

India has a lot to catch up with China — be it in Africa, Latin America or, much closer to home, in Asia. India's complacent approach poses a strong contrast to China's assertive policy.

China, which closely monitored the recent US-India Strategic Dialogue in Delhi, is unnerved by the intensifying US-India cooperation, and by the possibility of the US or India getting involved in the South China Sea where a string of Southeast Asian nations oppose China's hegemony in the region.

Strategic concerns

The region, an important international shipping route, also has huge deposits of oil and gas in and around the Spratly Islands to which China, like the other claimants Vietnam, the Philippines, Malaysia, Brunei and Taiwan, has staked claims.

The Association of Southeast Asian Nations (Asean) member states want the region to be a tension-free navigation zone.

The US fears that if China made a pre-emptive strike to seize the islands, the Asean nations could not defend themselves. Chinese belligerence in the region would create tensions with the Philippines, and get the US involved in the conflict because of a defence treaty with the Philippines. Then there is also the Taiwan Relations' Act, passed by the US Congress to defend Taiwan if it is attacked by the mainland.

The US, constricted by financial limits and a domestic public opinion hostile to any foreign military involvement, wants India to take greater responsibility in the South China Sea.

Despite its official "hands-off" policy in the region, India might be persuaded to side with Vietnam and the Philippines in South China Sea. This could happen if China keeps needling India on the Arunachal Pradesh and Kashmir issues, creates tensions on the Indo-China border, encourages Pakistan to keep up the momentum of hostility against India, and creates an anti-India environment in India's neighbourhood.

India also has other cards to play against China. It could intensify relations with Taiwan and question the legitimacy of the ‘one-China-policy', a move that could prompt the other Southeast Asian nations to emulate India's example. India could upgrade Tibet to the status of a ‘disputed region'.

With increasing global pressure, ‘reluctant' India will need to keep pace with the changing times and articulate its world power ambitions in a more assertive manner.

Manik Mehta is a commentator on Asian affairs.