India and China are not natural allies and the the myth of any strategic relationship or peaceful borders that may have existed in last few decades. In the wake of the ongoing India China standoff since last 5 months at various flash points along the Line of Actual Control (LAC) and after the killing of India 20 soldiers including one Commanding Officer in Galwan valley in a premeditated attack by China) People Liberation Army (PLA), a change in India’s foreign policy apparently has become inevitable. The mountains in Himalayas potential to influence the global events in this times in the past between the two Asian giants resolve pressing concerns of the world society India and China. Major and Middle Powers across the world have taken positions largely global order. Any stand-off or conflict between opposing the China’s revisionist and aggressive India and China puts Russia in a difficult behaviour or have preferred to remain neutral position in terms of taking sides and making a is Russia which has been ideologically closer to and ideological pivot China. Publicly, Russia China in its bid to counter the Western Powers have always maintained that it will never while maintaining close relationship with India mediate berween India and China conflict at the same time. While India shares cordial although through back channels negotiations, relationship with its age-old trusted partner Russia has tried that confrontation should not Russia, yet the latter has chosen to stay neutral nurn into violent conflict on LAC Russia needs in India-China standoff in Ladakh Russia India to balance Chinese influence in Central bur doing so at the cost of its traditional ally Western Powers in Europe. This balance of should compel India to think twice about its future endeavours. This article emphasises on in Arctic makes the Russian World view more the changing dynamics of India’s contemporary politics both internal and external. Will the Narendra Modi regime care to observe path dependence and incorporate the theory of structural realism in Indias foreign policy? This article shall reflect on the equations among the three large economies India, Russia and China- their significance to the world at large and also the changing dynamics of their relationship. This article highlights the complexities of relations shared among the three powers of the world. then moves on to discuss the common platform that they are part of This article later reflect on Galwan clashes in Eastern Ladakh has broken for Chinese aggression in the Himalayas. the causes for Russia lack of condemnation

Introduction The relationship shared among India, China and Russia is important as the three nations are world’s leading economies and continue to grow. Therefore, the discussions and coordination pertaining to major global aspects like economy, politics and security becomes inevitable. The three nations are significant voices in global politics and harbour the have witnessed heightened tensions many day and age. The trio is particularly powerful to and bring about constructive changes in the in the India-China stand-off. One such country hard choice between its traditional partner India strategic embrace with China is an open secret Asia while Russia also needs China to check the power in continental Asia and new great game complicated especially in the context of India China conflict.

India has a decisive leadership in the form of Narendra Modi who got re-elected to power in May 2019. Modi government is interested in expanding its foreign policy engagements with which it had no concrete engagements hitherto Yet the government deeply values our old times, only the shape of the terms might be altered owing to the post-Cold War geopolitical environment and India’s aspirations to be a “Vishwa Guru’. India is a leading power which seeks to lead the world spiritually and not on nuclear or military might. has since its 5000 years civilisation propagated spirituality. Yoga and inner engineering more than defence know-how. India’s economic potentials and its market have multiplied with every passing year making India an emerging economic power to reckon with. India shall no more entertain any nudge from any major player in the international arena, no matter how mighty

Complexities in India-China Relations and Russia as a Neutral Balancing Power India and China have never been natural allies; in fact, China is a long-term security threat for India India continues to look towards Russia for meeting its military hardware requirements because Russia provides India with best technology it can offer, albeit India has import countries alternative. Although US has overtaken Russia in last one decade in terms of multiple supplying military hardware and technology to India but still the old ine defence forces an entry with India’s new technologies which are yet to be offered by westem countries to India, Russia will remain a Indian defence a key player in supply network India obligation to buy weapons from Russia also stems from the theory of path dependence, or the decisions made the past .

Even after the the Cold War ended, Russ did not break the Soviet’s promise with India of providing her with arms and also establishing China due to its advanced military technological know-how. Both India and China helped the deteriorating Russian defence industry sustain itself, by purchasing high technology Russian manufactured arms The elementary antagonism shared by India and China would, in a long run, impact the twin-

track arms-export policy of Russia with global perceived significant and largest cliente There are very few countries in the

world that can boast of a friendship similar that of India and Russia. The two nations have had a stable and trust-based relationship which can be traced from the Soviet times The international environment has undergone tremendous change over the time. Por instance, end of Cold War, Soviet disintegration fall of Berlin wall, but the bond between India and Russia remained intimate, except for a few hiccups. The interests of the two nations also converge on most global issues hence makin beneficial for both to continue to be natural allies. The prime reason for India to maintain dose ties with Russia has been the support against the neighbouring adversaries particularly China and Pakistan India, on the other hand, acted as a counterbalancing force for Russia against American hostility and Chinesesupremacy in the region’. Russia did not hesitate in voicing support for India’s position on internal matters like Kashmir in international organisations like United Nations (UN).

A multifaceted relationship shared between the two nations is further enhanced due to India’s export of military equipments from Russia. India modernised its military competence with military support from Russia Both India and Soviet Union also had similar stand on issues of global nature for instance both criticised United States (US) bombing in Vietnam in 1965. Given the geopolitical commonality, Russia agreed to establish in India plant for the manufacturing of MIG-21. This decision was furtherance in Russia’s support to India in their belief for self-sufficient military establishment”. As a result, India now locally produces Sukhoi fighter aircrafts with transfer of technology from Russia to Hindustan Aeronautics Limited (HAL), Brahmossupersonic missile and T-90 tank. Defence has always occupied a prime position in India-Russia relations whether it is pertaining to India’s buying hardware or Russia offering a protective shield to India from rivals Apart from defence, the foreign policy of other major players is also pivotal for the intimate relation shared between India-Russia. By 1954, US commenced arming Pakistan which has empowered India’s closest rival and downgraded India’s predominant hegemony in the subcontinent. For a seminal account of Indian policy toward the US and its implications for larger Indian foreign policy during the Cold War, see Dennis Kux, India and the United States: Estranged Democracies, 1941-1991.

India and Russia traditionally converged their relation of the five components viz.,defence, civil nuclear energy, politics, space and anti-terrorism cooperation but have lately added the sixth component economic. The bilateral trade target is now set at US$30 billion 2025. Russia shall be empowering India by 2025 further by building 20 more nuclear reactors in a period of 20 years. Russian President stated in an interview, “It contains plans to build over 20 nuclear power units in India, as well as cooperation in building Russia-designed nuclear power stations in third countries, in the joint extraction of natural uranium, production of nuclear fuel and waste elimination.” Besides military technology, space, etc India Russia share historical cultural ties. Bhagavad Gita, India’s sacred text, was first translated in Russian in 1788 which was ordered by Catherine the Great Russians love the Indian film industry terms Bollywood since the times of veteran actor Raj Kapoor’s “Awara”. The former President of Russia Dmitry Medvedev once stated during an interview, “Our country is one of the places where Indian culture is most admired” in addition states, “Russia and India are the only.countries where satellite channels broadcast Indian movies 24/7. Yoga has been a significant bridge which holds India Russia in intimate ties. It is widely practised in Russia since 1980s and continues to grow because of the health benefits.

On the other hand, if we look at the Russia-China bilateral relationship, then the two communist giants have not shared very warm relations historically. The relations between the two became goodonly when China too occupied a permanent place in the UN. In order to maintain a peaceful environment, China sought to maintain sweet relations in its pursuance of a super power status. Historically speaking, the General Secretary of Communist Party of USSR Mikhail Gorbachev took drastic steps to alter the relations with China. The deepest hitch in the relations between Russia and China has been Russia’s pro-Western orientation. Russia never prioritised its relations with the People’s Republic of China (PRC) andplaced it after countries like Japan, US, Western Europe, and Korea. Therefore, China was of secondary significance in Russia’s external affairs.” The relations between Russia and China improved post disintegration of Soviet Union and the bond was consolidated only with President Boris Yeltsin’s visits in 1992. The military capabilities of North Atlantic Organisation (NATO) had increased manifolds as the Soviet Union collapse. The expansion of Treaty NATO eastward was a matter of grave concern for Russia

Russia and China have not shared a good-neighbourly relation after Mao Zedong founded Peoples’ Republic of China (PRC). In fact, Russia-China were adversaries during the Cold war, contending for dominance over the communist movement globally. The relations between the two countries began to normalise only after Mao’s death but the relations turned good only post the Soviet disintegration. After the Cold War, economic ties between the two countries have evolved as per strategic perspective. China is the largest trading partner for Russia and also the biggest investor in Asia. Russia, on the other hand, is deemed as a large consumer market for China and also raw material hub.

Russia-India-China Trilateral: A Platform for Counterbalance

India, Russia and China are powerful countries in different aspects of foreign policy. These countries are part of several multilateral forums The three non-Western countries understanding on multilateralism has evolved in order to eventually fit into the fully developed Western Academic setting on multilateralism. This definition of multilateralism is clouded on both theory and implementation of international relations global discourse. To quote a few out of them, may comprise popular Western scholars for instance Robert Keohane, who talks of it as “the practice of coordinating national policies in groups of three or more states”, or John Ruggie, who talks of “indivisibility” and “diffused reciprociry so on and so forth.

The recent standoff between India and China at the Line of Actual Control (LAC) shall compel India to review its overall relations with China and also will push Russia to achieve a balance so as to ensure stability and prosperity of the forums they are are part of. The three countries decided to form a strategic alliance only after the Cold War came to an end, and US had assumed the hegemony of the world. The individual behind the strategic triangle among India, Russia and and China was Prime Minister of Russia Yevgeny Maksimovich Primakov”. The Russian Premier foresaw that Russia would benefit the most in a strategic triangle. For instance, the triangle would check NATO from expanding eastward. In the post-Cold War era where US became a global cop, a strong counter bloc was essential and this triangle boosts our

role in world poubeateral forum India China The first and Russia got into is Shanghai Cooperation Organisation (SCO) which was formed in 2003 but India joined as a full member only in The focus of SCO is security, economic and political alliance with Eurasia apart from India 2017. and Russia. This enables the member countries to safeguard one another against external threats and terrorism. SCO is so much tilted towards Asia-pacific that it’s now widely regarded as the “alliance of the cast”, and the utmost security pillar in the region.Albeit primarily formed to fight terrorism SCO ended up largely challenging unilateralism of US

India China Russia are also part of BRICS which was formed in order to offer a multi-polar world in contrast with unipolar world with US being the hegemon. This is primarily an economic forum which seeks to achieve sustainable rapid growth. All the countries of this forum are growing economies yet this forum also strived to enhance political partnerships so as to counter US hegemony over most trade accords. For instance, the political negotiations that India made with the Us in the proposed nuclear cooperation” China in its foreign policy approach seeks to develop bilateral terms over multilateral engagements, hence have been disinterested in the strategic triangle formed among India Russia and itself. Hence the recent standoff at the Galwan valley doesn’t allow Russia to outline a clear-cut support to either of the countries The key irritant in the formation of warm relations between India-China is Pakistan”. Pakistan is a long-standing dante of China and China shall never confidante upset the key element with which it keeps India embroiled in South-Asia. On the other hand, the strategic alliance with Russia China does not much alters the foreign policy approach adopted by India as well.

Russia’s response to recent India-China standoff

The violent clashes in Galwan valley in Eastern Ladakh between Indian soldiers and PLA has broken the myth of any strategic relationship or peaceful borders that may have existed in last few decades. In the wake of recent India-China standoff at at various flash points along the Line of Actual Control (LAC) and after the killing of India’s 20 soldiers Officer in Galwan including one one Commanding in a premeditated attack by China’s People’s Liberation Army (PLA), a change in India’s foreign policy apparently is the need of the hour. Both the countries have tried their diplomatic and military communication channels to deescalate and disengage at LAC.It shall be important to know that before the 1962 India-China war, Russia neither sided with India nor with China. In the present India-China war, the President of Russia Vladimir Putin same neutrality which might not impact China maintained the but affects India in a huge manner. A slight nudge to China by Russia post Galwan clashes would have mellowed down China significantly Russia and China, do not see eye to eye, yet have a strategic relation. This argument is supported by fact that china doesn’t deem Russia’s annexation of Cremea as legitimate , they both simply have a “friendship of convenience”. Russia also adopted a neutral outlook on Beijing’s claims in South China Sea. The US stance on Covid-19 pandemic has made it imperative for China to stay who has defended China close to Russia against the spread of virus. US and the European nations have compelled Russia to stay put with China as there have been numerous sanctions on Russia after its Crimea annexation. But Russia did support India during 1971 war against Pakistan Russia is a pivotal force in a border clash between India-China but has believed that the rwo countries should resolve their conflict themselves. Hence, we see the Russian neutrality in India-China recent standoff.

Conclusion

The border clashes between a new phenomenon; but the Indian government under the determined leadership of Prime Minister Narendra Modi has warned China to retrieve its steps else there shall be no strategic engagement moving forward. The government of India has gone an extra mile by aggressively countering Chinese aggression besides banning of several Chinese apps. The citizens of the country have come out in open support of strong leadership and vowed mass boycott of Chinese products and also have run some social-media movements against Chinese goods. As far as Russia is concerned it is justified in staying neutral in India-China standoffs because India and China are emerging giants and fully equipped to tackle their bilateral concerns. India is determined to no more withstand any nudge from any country in its international engagements.

About Author:

This article is written by Guest Author, Anima Sonkar. Anima Sonkar is a Ph.D. Scholar, Russian and Central Asian Studies, Jawaharlal Nehru University, New Delhi . She is also serving as joint secretary in ABVP, Delhi State

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