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New Delhi: The United States will work closely with India in the Indian Ocean region to ensure free and open Indo-Pacific and to improve India’s ability to force troops in the face of increased activity by the Chinese Navy, a senior US government official said on Wednesday.
The activities of the Chinese People’s Liberation Army (PLA) in areas ranging from the Actual Control Line (LAC) to the South China Sea and the Indian Ocean match the pattern of behavior aimed at damaging the rules-based command and trying to change the status quo through coercion, the official who spoke with anonymity requirements.
At the same time, the US focused on helping India modernizing its military and supported the country’s defense indigenization agenda because it was in accordance with the American plan to help Indian armed forces away from dependence on Russian equipment and platforms, the official said. These efforts will also lead to the integration of further defense industry from both parties.
Although India’s response to the Russian invasion to Ukraine has been contrary to the reaction of other members from a quadrilateral security dialogue or quad – Australia, Japan and the US – the official explained that this would not be a “significant barrier” for cooperation in grouping.
The operational environment in the Indian Ocean region has changed, in part due to increased PLA activity. That is an area where we are interested in supporting India’s ability and ability to project their strength and deepen our own bilateral cooperation, operationally and in the field of information sharing, “said the official.
When I see what PLA is doing in the Indian Ocean, what they do in LAC, I see it as part of the pattern of behavior that is connected with what is happening in the South China Sea, the Taiwan Strait, the East China Sea-which you have a country with the intention And the ability to damage rule -based orders and try to change the status quo through coercion, “he added.
The US also has concerns about PLA facilities in third countries and “its ability to use economic and military tools for the purpose of coercion of regional countries”. The Secret Safety Pact signed by the new -Newly signed by China and the Solomon Islands is “part of the pattern of behavior” and very clearly PLA “Looking for Installation Abroad wherever he can get it, and that includes South Asia”, said the official.
The official described the relationship with India as “one of the most important bilateral relations in the world” and one of the “most consequences” for the Biden administration, and said the American was very focused on helping India modernize its military and support Indians Indigenisasi the defense -making side.
The Indian Indigenization agenda is suitable for the transfer of Russian equipment, “the ongoing trend”, and the US “will look for opportunities to support this agenda”, the official showed.
