R Krishna Das
China is eager to accept the growing proximity of India-Russia and is desperately trying to provoke the United States (US) to exercise the Countering America’s Adversaries Through Sanctions Act (CAATSA).
India has moved forward with the delivery of a Russian S-400 missile defense system despite possible US sanctions. China wishes to encash it and is needling the US to act against India and impose sanctions for reaching arms deals with Russia.
The mouthpiece of China’s state-owned newspaper carried a report stating that India’s strengthened defense cooperation with Russia and purchase of its S-400 missile system came after the US asked its partners to stay away from Russian military equipment to avoid possible sanctions under the Countering America’s Adversaries Through Sanctions Act (CAATSA). The US has sanctioned Turkey over purchase of the S-400 under CAATSA.
On Vladimir Putin’s visit to India and the India-Russia Summit 2021 held in New Delhi, Chinese analysts said the US that was most anxious, as it faced an awkward dilemma on whether to sanction India, which would lead to failure in its attempt to court India to contain China, or waive the sanction and lose the trust of its allies due to flip-flopping. The deal also reflects India’s growing uncertainty and confusion over its pro-US policy, the analysts added.
According to experts in foreign affairs, China’s reaction is strategic as it wishes to create a rift between America and India to consolidate its security position. The US is posing a big threat to China and the latter is fully aware that the former will require India’s support for any action against it. Beijing sees it as a best bet to indulge India and the US into a fresh dispute.
In fact, it is China that is more anxious over Putin’s “affection” for India. The Russian President arrived in New Delhi on Monday afternoon for the first in-person meeting with Modi on his second foreign visit after the pandemic.
China also downplayed that the Russian weapons system could help India counter China in border areas. A Chinese military commentator said that China had been in possession of the S-400 missile systems for a long time and was familiar with its capabilities, and was capable of neutralizing India’s threat posed by its purchased S-400.
