India hails Tillerson’s speech
China’s ‘OBOR’ initiative, Doklam stand-off to be discussed during US Secy of State’s visit to India next week
India has described Wednesday’s speech of United States (US) Secretary of State Rex Tillerson ( pictured) as “significant policy statement on India-US relations and its future.” Tillerson is scheduled to visit India next week.
A statement from the Ministry of External Affairs (MEA) on Friday hailed Tillerson’s speech and also sought to underline the congruence of views between India and the US on China’s assertiveness in the South China Sea, as well as New Delhi and Washington DC’s misgivings over Beijing’s ‘One Belt, One Road’ (OBOR) infrastructure project.
Sources at South Block said OBOR, South China Sea and eventheDoklam militarydeadlock between India and China could come up during US Secretary of State’s discussions with the Indian leadership.
In his speech on October 18 to a think tank, Tillerson said the US was India’s “reliable partner”. He criticised China for “provocations” in the South China Sea and also its “predatory economics” through its ‘OBOR’ initiative.
Advocating stronger IndiaUS relations for the next 100 years, Tillerson said China, while rising alongside India, had done so less responsibly. He said “in this period of uncertainty and somewhat angst, India needs a reliable partner on the world stage”. The US is that partner, he said.
While Beijing criticised Tillerson for his “biased views”, the MEA on Friday said, “Secretary Tillerson has made a significant policy statement on India-US relations and its future. He brought out its various strengths and highlighted our shared commitment to a rule-based international order.”
“We appreciate his positive evaluation of the relationship and share his optimism about its future directions. We look forward to welcoming him in India next week for detailed discussions on further strengthening of our partnership,” the MEA said on Friday.
In his five nation week-long tour starting next week, Tillerson is scheduled to visit India, Pakistan, Saudi Arabia, Qatar and Switzerland. His first stop will be Saudi Arabia. He will meet the Saudi leaders to discuss Yemen, the ongoing Gulf crisis, Iran and a number of other regional and bilateral issues, State Department Spokesperson Heather Nauert has said in Washington.
Nauert said Tillerson would then make his inaugural visit to South Asia as secretary of state, reaffirming the Trump Administration’s comprehensive strategy towards the region.
In Islamabad, he would meet senior Pakistani leaders to discuss the US’s continued strong bilateral cooperation, Pakistan’s critical role in the success of US President Donald Trump’s South Asia strategy and the expanding economic ties between the two countries, she said. The exact dates of his visits to Islamabad and New Delhi are yet to be announced.
In New Delhi, Tillerson would meet senior Indian leaders to “discuss further strengthening of our strategic partnership and collaboration on security and prosperity” in the Indo-Pacific region, Nauert said.
In his speech on Wednesday, Tillerson said Beijing, at times, had undermined the international, rules-based order even as countries like India operate within a framework that protects other nations’ sovereignty. “China’s provocative actions in the South China Sea directly challenge the international law and norms that the US and India both stand for,” he said.
Tillerson said his visit to New Delhi “could not come at a more promising time for the US-Indian relations and the US-India partnership.”