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Over the past two weeks, two developments have led to greater resolve on China policy in Washington.
The shooting down of the Chinese balloon spotted over the U.S., plus the U.S. and India elevating their defense partnership in the spheres of critical and emerging technology, have contributed to the heightened determination in Washington.
The Chinese balloon spotted over several states, unfortunately, is not a new phenomenon. Such balloons have been spotted during previous administrations over Hawaii and Guam — even during the Trump administration when US-China relations were near their historical worst. Interestingly, it was only under the Biden administration that it was shot down and left in pieces.
The U.S. under Biden is taking no chances nor letting anything slide in its competition with China. When a sliver of hope was beginning to emerge in mending ties between the U.S. and China through Secretary of State Antony Blinken’s scheduled trip to Beijing, the balloon episode played spoilsport with Blinken postponing his trip.
However, the more significant development is the agreement signed with India. This agreement comes against the backdrop of the world’s largest democracy, India, and the world’s oldest, the U.S., elevating their bilateral partnership to address 21st century challenges in critical technologies, defense and even the space domain.
U.S. National Security Advisor Jake Sullivan met his Indian counterpart Ajit Doval over two days at the end of January to finalize a technological partnership akin to the nuclear cooperation agreement signed in 2016. The two parties signed deals that proposed increased cooperation in artificial intelligence and advanced wireless technology between their research bodies and voiced support for joint production of defense technologies, armored infantry vehicles and artillery.
Furthermore, in a sign of changing times, Commerce Secretary Gina Raimondo’s meeting with Indian business and education leaders included national security officials. Over the last three years, the line between national security and trade has blurred, and finding security and business leaders under one roof underlines that development. Particularly, with India.
