CHINA-INDIA: US DEFENCE SECRETARY MATTIS' VISIT
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An article in Global Times on September 28, 2017, reacting to the visit to India of US Defence Secretary Mattis said "Washington is attempting to tie New Delhi to its chariot" but "India will have to rely on itself rather than a few weapons the US sells to it, for its ambitions". Stating that "The development of the US-India relationship is subtly connected to the development of the China-US and China-India relationship", it said as "compared to New Delhi, Beijing is more determined and capable not to be manipulated when handling its relations with the two other countries" adding that "the Washington-New Delhi relationship has taken the need to contain China into account". It said "For Washington, the idea of China encircling India is a useful strategy to draw New Delhi to its side" and added that "The lack of self-confidence is impeding India from sharing the development dividends of China's Belt and Road initiative and depriving the country of the opportunity for development. New Delhi's status in Asia should not be determined by Washington's China strategy. The peaceful solution to the Doklam standoff suggests that China and India have the capability to eliminate exterior interventions and diplomatically handle crises. India would be more mature and confident if it could view high-level exchanges with the US without regard for any perceived need to contain China".
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