Posted on 06/03/2005 8:11:06 AM PDT by TigerLikesRooster
Democracy will take India ahead of China: Rumsfeld
AFP[ FRIDAY, JUNE 03, 2005 08:09:31 PM ]
SINGAPORE: US Defense Secretary Donald Rumsfeld said on Friday that he expected US military ties with India to strengthen over the coming years and predicted that China's influence would decline unless it moved to a freer political system.
"It's pretty clear where India's going, and one would anticipate the relationship with India will continue to strengthen as we go through the period ahead," Rumsfeld said before he arrived here on Friday afternoon.
"With respect to China, it's not completely clear which way they're going because of the tension... between the nature of their political system and the nature of their economic system," he told reporters.
Rumsfeld compared and contrasted the prospects of the two Asian giants as he flew here from Washington to attend an annual international security conference that draws defense ministers from around the region.
In remarks to reporters travelling with him, he would not be drawn on the standoff with North Korea over its nuclear weapons program and alluded only glancingly to a Chinese military buildup that has caused concern in Washington.
But he was expected to air US concerns on both North Korea and China's military spending in a keynote speech on Saturday to the conference organized by the International Institute of Strategic Studies as well as in one-on-one meetings with other defense ministers.
His comments to reporters made clear that the Pentagon is looking to India as an anchor in its security relationships in the region. Rumsfeld recalled that he made the first overtures to India within weeks of becoming defense secretary in 2001.
"We have what I would characterize as an excellent relationship with India. From a military-to-military standpoint it has improved in strength every year over the past four and a half years," he said.
The military relationship, which has included joint excercises, "has been very much leading the other aspects of the relationship, which is a good thing," he said.
"We are finding many things to cooperate on," he said. Calling India a "major power," the secretary highlighted its standing as the world's largest democracy, its "relatively free economic system," and its educated population.
"With respect to the Peoples Republic of China, it is what it is. It's a big country, with a fairly rapid growth rate," he said.
"Its defense budget is growing apace with their economy, and they are a major weapons purchaser in the world, largely from Russia but from other countries as well, and have been deploying a great many ballistic missiles and ships and other military capabilities over a period of years now," he said.
"The tension will grow as they move through the years," he said.
"To the extent that the Republic of China leans toward a freer political system they will be a considerably more successful country and a more influential country in the world," he said.
"To the extent they don't do that there will be pressures against their economy, they will grow less fast, and they will be a less influential country in the world," he said.
This is only Rumsfeld's third trip to Asia during his current tenure as defense minister. He is scheduled to travel to Thailand on Sunday, and then to Norway early next week for talks before a NATO defense minister's meeting in Brussels.
Because he wants to spank China hard. India may be lukewarm, but is not a security threat. On the other hand, China is.
Here is yet another example of where, if you realize the game plan of the Bush administration, the whole setup is completely understandable. This follows the whole Bush Liberty Doctrine concept. - India = more freedom = advantage
For those who don't know what I'm talking about,
all of these developments stem directly from the administration having a common game plan, President Bush's Liberty Doctrine. It is a definitive statement describing what is occurring, and laying out how this next century will progress (unless we succumb to terrorism).
For motivational material, look at:
President Bush Delivers Graduation Speech at West Point
http://www.whitehouse.gov/news/releases/2002/06/20020601-3.html
The whole strategic approach FReepers ought to be at least somewhat familiar with is here:
The National Security Strategy of the United States of America
http://www.whitehouse.gov/nsc/nss.html
Anyone who is curious as to how the next century will unfold, and why, or who wishes they had an idea what is going on behind the scenes, owes it to themselves to spend some time studying these.
Thanks for the links. The NSS is an interesting read. Only thing is ....there was the same old India-Pak hyphenation in more than one place. US will have to stop looking at Indo-US relation from a Pakistani prism. Only then can we really move forward.
Looks like Rummy has been talking to Victor Davis Hanson again.
You're most welcome.
Personally, I've always thought it strange that the US/India have not been much closer during the last half century, and hoped that would happen.
As far as Pakistan is concerned: for at least 35 years, US military thinkers have been very concerned about the nuclear proliferation threat the India-Pak area represented, and the 'Toon's administration ignored and let come to life. Now, we have terrorism to be concerned about with Pakistan. A strong working relationship with Pakistan is important, despite the India-Pakistan rivalry, and in my mind, India being the more critical. This is a similar situation to Egypt-Israel for the U.S., and in many ways even more difficult.
Yes, as the CCP grows wealthier and more influential, the tension with the U.S. will grow.
Since China is getting wealthier largely from our trade, we could try to nip at least some of this in the bud by ceasing normal trade with Red China.
Your comment should read India has to stop looking at its relationship with the US through a Pakistan prism. We very clearly see two different countries. India will not accept that. Ever wonder why India and Pakistan are in different regional combatant commands?
This is one area where most Indians are very rigid in their outlook. I would say with 90-95% of Indians (educated or not) I talk with regarding foreign policy, security policy, etc. that within 10 minutes, no matter what topic or what region we are discussing, they will bring the discussion around to US relations with Pakistan.
Frankly, it is very predictable and pretty tiresome.
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