India will not join US alliance against China: Think tank

BEIJING: Plans by the US to pull India into an alliance to contain China was a "wishful thinking" by the Obama administration as New Delhi will prefer to retain its strategic independence to fulfil its ambition to become a great power, according to a state-run think tank here today.

"To a large degree, to shape an alliance between the US and India is wishful thinking from Washington," Fu Xiaoqiang of the state-run China Institute of Contemporary International Relations wrote in a commentary on the recent visit by US Vice President Joe Biden to India.

"Admittedly, Biden made some achievements in his recent visit. In strategic aspects, India was officially invited to the 'chain' of containing China," said the commentary published in the state run Global Times newspaper.

"Biden mentioned directly that India is to play an indispensable part in the pivot," it said. "However, India cares more about drawing practical benefits from its relationship with the US, such as getting advanced military equipment and dual-use technology," it added.

"No matter how many promises the US has made to India, it is hard to change India's strategy of being independent and remaining non-aligned. On the base of shared democratic values, the 'natural alliance' between the US and India needs time to reach its full potential," the commentary said.

According to US geostrategic desires, in order to push India to integrate into its system to contain China, the US not only encourages India to move east but also brings up the concept of an "Indo-Pacific" to justify India's intervention in Asia-Pacific affairs, it said.

However, India still has various concerns over the US re-balancing strategy for the region.

India worries this may stimulate China to develop weaponry and draw India into an open confrontation with China, it said.

"This is obviously far from India's interests, since India prefers balancing China naturally by ensuring peaceful and fruitful competition. India has no intention of becoming a regional test balloon by going against China," it said.

New Delhi also worries that small countries, incited by the US, may confront China openly, worsening regional conflicts as well as damaging regional stability.

Moreover, India is afraid of being reduced to a strategic vassal of the US, which will block its path to becoming a great power in the world, it said.