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US stays out of Indo-Chinese minefield

The Clinton administration has steered clear of the controversy raised by Defence Minister George Fernandes over the Chinese military threat to India's security, saying the United States is deeply concerned about stability on the Indian subcontinent.

Both State Department and Pentagon spokesmen gave identical, non-committal replies to questions pertaining to Fernandes's arguments, voiced from public fora, that Chinese military activities and alliances, notably those involving Pakistan, Myanmar and Tibet, had begun to "encircle" India.

State Department spokesman James Foley stressed the need for stability in the region. "We have engaged in concerted efforts over many years to achieve our non-proliferation objectives on the subcontinent."

He recalled the United States's "enhanced dialogue" with India that has developed in recent months. "I believe that, through that dialogue, we are coming to a much better understanding of the elements of stability in the region."

Foley said certainly, the United States's relationship with China was also critical to promoting stability on the Indian subcontinent. The fact that the US had been able to achieve a lot of progress over working with China in recent years on non-proliferation objectives was critical to so many areas around the world, including the Indian subcontinent, he added.

A journalist listed the points raised by Fernandes, including his public declaration that China is India's number one potential threat, its establishment of a base in the Coco Islands for listening, setting up of airfields along the Tibetan border and stockpiling of nuclear warheads in Tibet.

The journalist wanted to know, 'Does the State Department think there is any basis for India's fear or caution about Chinese intentions? Are any of these things that I mentioned, militarily provocative against India by the Chinese? Would we (the US) criticise them (the Chinese)?'

Foley, in reply, said, "I'm not familiar with the laundry list that you read, and I'd have to refer you to the Chinese and Indian spokesmen on that."

In reply to an identical question, Pentagon representative Ken Hacon said, "I don't want to get into commenting on India's views of its defensive challenges."

"I will say this administration has made it very clear that an arms race on the Indian subcontinent is destabilising in that area and could have much broader dangers," he said, adding, "We urge all countries in that very heavily populated area to avoid arms races. That's been our policy and it remains our policy."

Asked if there was an arms race in progress on the part of China, he replied, "As I said, I am not going to comment on India's view of the threats it may face."

UNI

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