Submitted By: Frank Wallace

During the great session last week with Dr. Ashok Bardhan, something was mentioned that caused me to think of an interesting question. I wondered what Bardhan’s thoughts were on whether or not he felt the rising economic power in India and China would cause a rise in the two countries military power, and if so, would that pose a possible threat to the United States and other countries? Since I never asked my question, I ended up looking on the internet for some answers. While doing so, I came across an interesting article from FPIF called Using India to Keep China at Bay. See also this webpage for another in depth look at the China, US, and India relations.

In August 2007, India and the US reached a bilateral agreement on civilian nuclear cooperation. Proponents of the agreement argue it will bring India closer to the US at a time when the two countries are forging a strategic relationship to pursue their common interests in fighting terrorism, spreading democracy, and preventing the domination of Asia by any single power. But some critics in the US say the deal fundamentally reverses half a century of US nonproliferation efforts and potentially contributes to a nuclear arms race in Asia.

This arms race could occur for two different reasons. One reason is because of the history between China and India. Experts worry US nuclear aid to India could foster a dangerous nuclear rivalry between India and China. Though India has a strong interest in building economic relations with China, New Delhi is still wary of China’s military rise in the region. Plus, India and China did fight a brief war in 1962. The second reason surrounds relationships with Pakistan. Since 9/11, Pakistan has been a strong ally with the United States, but they have not received a similar deal on nuclear energy from the US. Some experts say this apparent US favoritism toward India could increase the nuclear rivalry between the two competitive nations, and potentially raise tensions in the already dangerous region.

With this background information, I put forward this question to you:

Do you think that this agreement might cause more harm than good in the world? Could it make China become a possible threat now or in the future to the United States or the rest of the world? And if so, what can be done about it?