US policies regarding Indo-Pacific will not change, US NSA assures -

Washington: New US President, Joe Biden’s policies regarding the Indo-Pacific sector, will not change. US National Security Advisor, Jake Sullivan assured that the Biden administration would further strengthen the QUAD cooperation, founded by the previous administration. Sullivan clarified that QUAD cooperation would be one of President Trump’s policies, to be carried forward by Biden administration. The new US State Secretary, Antony Blinken expressed a resolve to strengthen the bilateral ties further, during his telephonic discussion with the Indian Foreign Minister. Against this background, the significance of the statements made by Sullivan regarding QUAD increases furthermore.

Some military analysts expressed doubts that President Biden’s administration will not adopt a strong stand against China; it will weaken the QUAD cooperation started between India-US-Japan-Australia and China major beneficiary in that scenario. Analysts pointed out that when Biden was the vice-president, he chose to ignore the aggressive Chinese activities in the Indo-Pacific sector during the Barack Obama tenure. Therefore, the analysts inferred that Biden would again ignore the aggressive Chinese activities, after becoming the President. But Jake Sullivan, the newly appointed National Security Advisor (NSA), clarified the administration’s policy regarding the Indo-Pacific sector.

Sullivan said that QUAD would be given the highest priority even in the future, while speaking in front of the US Congress thinktank US Institute of Peace. Sullivan assured that moreover, the Biden administration would give priority to strengthen this cooperation further. Sullivan confessed that the US policy regarding the Indo-Pacific is dependent on the QUAD cooperation. During his speech in front of the thinktank, Sullivan also said that the policies castigating China would also be continued. Sullivan raised objections on China’s policies regarding Uyghur Muslims, the population of Hong Kong and Taiwan. The US NSA said that Chinese policies regarding Uyghur Muslims, Hong Kong Protestors and Taiwan are very aggressive and the United States will have to make China pay the price for it. Sullivan added that the United States would seek help from the European countries in this matter. The fears that the Biden administration will be taking a softer stand against China seem to have been alleviated with these statements made by Sullivan. Despite this, one cannot believe what the Biden administration said. Some analysts pointed out that the Biden administration should prove it via actions that it can take a strong stand against China. Responsibility of proving the credibility on this front lies with the Biden administration.

Meanwhile, new US Secretary of State held telephonic discussions with Indian Foreign Minister S. Jaishankar; the details have been posted on social media. Blinken said that the Indian Foreign Minister concurred with him to take full advantage of the opportunities created due to the Indo-US cooperation and jointly face the challenges posed, underlining the importance of bilateral relations. Blinken also claimed that this cooperation would extend beyond the Indo-Pacific sector. A few days ago, the United States had threatened to impose sanctions against India, objecting to the purchase of S-400 air defence systems from Russia. Therefore, it is clear that India is watching the actions of the Biden administration very closely. In case the United States changed its policies regarding the Indo-Pacific, India has already started preparation to seek cooperation from Japan, France and Russia.

The statements made by the US NSA Sullivan and Secretary of State Blinken are indicating that these are reactions to the Indian activities.