News Highlight
U.S.-China relations have witnessed an unprecedented downturn in 2022.
Key Takeaway
- The U.S.’s October decision to impose severe limitations on China’s semiconductor industry has stoked the flames of competition even more.
- Amid this escalation, the US President and Chinese President met for the first time on the sidelines of the G-20 summit in Bali in November, signalling a likely de-escalation of tensions.
U.S.-China relationship
- 19th century
- American missionaries began to arrive in China, generating sympathy for the country.
- During World War II
- The US-backed Chinese nationalists in their fight against Japanese occupation.
- The US tried to isolate China in 1949
- When the communists defeated the nationalists.
- The 1970s
- It saw the United States and communist China band together to oppose the Soviet Union.
- 21st century
- Some Americans began to see China as a possible threat.
- America expected China’s growing economic prosperity to lead to greater democratisation of its society inevitably.
China’s stand
- Chinese interests
- Reshape Asian and global orders to suit Chinese interests.
- Defensive about authoritarian rule
- There has been no attempt to conceal China’s new geopolitical ambitions, nor has the country been defensive about the authoritarian rule.
- Self-reliance
- In the name of a “dual circulation strategy,” China has emphasised the importance of self-reliance.
- Globalisation to internal economic dynamism
- Globalisation has given way to a greater emphasis on internal economic dynamism and a reduction in reliance on foreign technologies.
- Global reliance on China
- China has attempted to increase the world’s reliance on its economy and leverage it for strategic advantage.
- China has actively sought to undermine US alliances in Asia, putting pressure on the United States forward military presence in the region.
- The United States is now retaliating.
US’s response
- Confrontational approach
- During former Presidents’ presidencies, there was a more confrontational approach.
- The National Security Strategy
- Predicted the return of great power rivalry and the need to respond to Russia and China’s challenges.
- The United States has imposed a series of technology sanctions
- Against China and has resorted to the once-unthinkable “industrial policy” to boost internal innovation.
India’s stand on US-China dynamics
- US-China dynamic
- India’s engagement with the US-China dynamic has not been unpleasant in the past.
- International Acceptance
- When the United States attempted to isolate China in the 1950s, India attempted to befriend it and promote its international acceptance.
- Russian ties
- When the United States and China joined forces to limit Soviet power in the 1970s, India strengthened its ties with Moscow.
- Modernisation of China
- India watched with envy as the United States aided the Chinese economy’s rapid modernisation.
Way Forward
- The competition between the United States and China will primarily shape Asian and Indo-Pacific international relations.
- India and the rest of Asia must deal with at least three aspects of the Sino-American conflict.
- On the economic and technological front, India and the United States are attempting to reduce their exposure to China.
Pic Courtesy: The Hindu
Content Source: The Hindu