Chinese criticism of India sounds quite strange

Whether the trade war between the US and China would ease with Trump's latest stance is a billion dollar question. It may or may not. But what it would certainly not reduce is the rivalry.

The US would try to retain its supremacy at all costs, and this is what India must be happy about. Even the decision to pull out of the Afghan talks by the US goes in favour of both Afghanistan and India.

The US has gone ahead and designated the Taliban chief as a terrorist now. One would only wish that maverick Trump does not go back on this stand now.

Whether the US military presence in Afghanistan is good or not is a different question and the US should know better. But India is much relieved that the US has pulled out of the talks with Taliban.

Now it should lead to the next question: Should New Delhi remain Washington's best hope in Asia? For the US-Indian partnership to bear fruit, both sides must recognise that their primarily shared interest is to balance a rising China - and not expect a close alliance or alignment on all major policy issues.

India never uses the C-word in its trade or defence relations with the US, yet it is quite understandable vis a vis Pakistan angle. It is much to the chagrin of China that India focuses mostly on the US rather than befriending China.

But there is little that India would do or could do here. The tight Pakistani embrace of China is always a matter of concern for India given the fact that India has a border dispute with both the countries.

Secondly, with the epicentre of terror lying so close to its borders, India cannot forego the balancing act whether it admits to it or not. Read in this context, the criticism of China of this balancing act of India sounds strange. the Chinese propaganda machinery has gone full hog to accuse India of targeting China.

The balance of power theory in international relations suggests that if a country wants to prevent itself from being dominated by others, it must have the power or a reliable system to counterbalance others.

The theory emphasises vigilance and containment between different countries. In reality, the Chinese propaganda claims, balance of power is usually utilised by a certain powerful country to make coalitions or military alliances to counter its rivals - the balance of power during the Cold War is a classic example.

Additionally, such a balance is likely to develop into hostility. What is good for the goose, must be so for the gander too. Why forget such an elementary principle?

Attitude that China could do anything and get away is wrong. Take for example, the abrogation of Article 370, which is purely an internal matter of India.

Despite annexing Tibet and vast tracts of Ladakh and also illegally encroaching upon thousands of square kilometres of Indian territory in Gilgit and Baltistan which is under the illegal occupation of Pakistan. What business China has to lecture anyone on morals?