Shift in Power Balance: India, USA and China
NEW DELHI: On October 1, 2018, Asia Society India Centre in collaboration with the Confederation of Indian Industry hosted former Australian Prime Minister and President, Asia Society Policy Institute Hon. Kevin Rudd and Former Indian Foreign Secretary and Senior Fellow, Centre for Policy Research Amb. Shyam Saran for a discussion on the present state of relations between India, USA and China.
Kevin Rudd opened the discussion by addressing 2018 as the year of ‘fundamental change’. In light of the current trade dispute between USA and China, he explained that the tariffs imposed by the United States government are planned and deliberate and not merely a consequence of the regular ‘Donald Trump Tweet’. Rudd spoke of the National Service Strategy Report in which the United States has expressed its concern over China’s increasing dominance in the international system, he noted that China’s intensions are not purely economic. Mr. Rudd claimed the China 2025 strategy report is testament to China’s intention to dominate the world market, especially in the high technology and manufacturing sector.
Ambassador Saran began with a quote by Henry Kissinger describing the peculiarity of a radical figure like Trump. He pointed out that while the disruption in international trade will have negative effects on emerging economies like India, Indians are experiencing a shift in the diplomatic attitude from the Chinese. Ambassador Saran was of the opinion that the rising tension between China and USA will only intensify in the coming months, as this is not just a war on trade but also on strategic interests between the two nations who are gradually moving from cooperation towards confrontation.
Ambassador Saran and Mr. Rudd later addressed matters pertaining to China’s economy under Xi Jinping’s leadership which was followed by perceptive questions from the audience.
Watch the programme here:
Part 1 - https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=oHoZziyrv_I&t=1s
Part 2 - https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=6JYYPXBwnOE&t=13s
As reported by Swati Gopalkrishnan, Programme Intern, Asia Society India Centre