Abhishek Ratkal asked: What are India's reservations about having a tripartite security agreement involving Japan and the US in view of a rising China?

Jagannath P. Panda replies: ‘Rising China’ is certainly a security challenge for the US, Japan and India at many levels. In fact, most countries find it difficult to deal with China. Still, a ‘tripartite security agreement’ or building an alliance to tackle China is surely not recommendable. While China remains one of the significant trading partners for the US, Japan and India, it equally connects with the three on a range of complex regional and global issues and politics. China is not only the second largest economy in the world today, but also a permanent member of the UN Security Council (UNSC). A ‘tripartite security agreement’ involving India, Japan and the US may sound an encouraging one; but, may not actually be a sensible one.

Politically, India does not have any specific reservations on a ‘tripartite security agreement.’ Yet, from India’s perspective, it may not be a correct stride to enter into such an agreement. This kind of ‘tripartite security agreement,’ however, may help in tackling trans-national and non-traditional security issues at the regional and global level. For years, India’s foreign policy has been on the path of ‘non-alignment’ and India is not known for taking side or entering into any political or security centric alliance or agreement. India must continue with its traditional posture, without really entering into any needless security agreement or alliance. India must have its own independent approach to deal with a ‘Rising China’, and should not enter into a security agreement or alliance which may complicate the China-India relations further.