Mike Pence hits out at China, hails stronger bond with India

WASHINGTON: To advance its vision of a free and open Indo-pacific, the Trump administration is building new and stronger bonds with countries in the region, including India, US vice president Mike Pence said on Thursday.

Speaking at the Hudson Institute think tank, Pence also accused China of trying to undermine President Donald Trump as it “wants a different American president” .

The US recently renamed its oldest and largest military command - the Pacific Command - to Indo-pacific Command, in a largely symbolic move to signal India’s importance. “To advance our vision of a free and open Indopacific, we’re building new and stronger bonds with nations that share our values, across the region – from India to Samoa,” he said. “Our relationships will flow from a spirit of respect, built on partnership, not domination.”

Next month, Pence will represent the US in Singapore and Papua New Guinea, at ASEAN and APEC. “There, we will unveil new measures and programmes to support a free and open Indopacific – and on behalf of the President, I will deliver the message that America’s commitment to the Indo-pacific has never been stronger,” he said.

To protect US interests here at home, the administration has strengthened CFIUS – the Committee on Foreign Investment in the United States – heightening our scrutiny of Chinese investment in America, “to protect national security from Beijing’s predatory actions,” he said.

“When it comes to Beijing’s malign influence and interference in American politics and policy, we will continue to expose it, no matter the form it takes,” he added.