China is mis-playing the relationship with India: Rush Doshi
Rush Doshi, a key architect of US President Joe Biden’s China policy, served in the National Security Council in 2021-24. Author of an acclaimed book, The Long Game: China’s Grand Strategy to Displace American Order, he speaks to Seema Sirohi on the US, India and China. Edited excerpts:
How do you view the India-China border situation? What would US do if there was another Galwan-type situation?
First, the Biden Administration has repeatedly noted the need for China to refrain from aggressive activity around the Line of Actual Control. Second, the US is not only more public about the border dispute but even includes it alongside the South and East China Seas, Taiwan Strait, as examples of provocative Chinese activity.
Despite the recent reported border agreement between China and India, the future is uncertain. China will probably continue salami-slicing on the border just as it is doing in the East and South China Seas and Taiwan Strait. If there’s again a major incident, the US will publicly support India. You could imagine intelligence-sharing coordination, working with allies on a public condemnation of Beijing and possibly, announcements of additional defence cooperation.
Fundamentally, China is mis-playing the relationship with India. It is in China’s interest to resolve the border dispute and try to pull India closer. For whatever reason—probably related to sovereignty issues—they haven’t handled it better.
Their reason might be simpler—to keep India under pressure from all sides. After all, China helped
