Friday, November 17, 2006

[nuclear deal] worrying implications for china

The Indo-US nuclear deal cleared a major hurdle when the US Senate approved the pact, with no crippling amendments, with an overwhelming 85-12 vote. It had already passed the House of Representatives. Assuming any differences are reconciled in a House-Senate conference, the deal will be much closer to fruition. In such a situation, New Delhi is keen to seal the deal as one of its significant achievements without standing out as the signature feature of its tenure. It would thus ideally want the pact to be out of the limelight as soon as possible, so as to highlight other policy initiatives, including steps toward social equity. Competitive and populist electoral politics will begin to hold sway perhaps less than a year from now.

This deal is vital as India, which had been a little left behind or at least unevenly progressing in the shadow of a ‘full steam ahead’ China, now has a power alliance with Washington and this can only put a major dent in China’s own plans for their strategic alliance with India and their plans for the world. Little wonder New Delhi does not want to trumpet the deal too loudly and why it was so keen to get it cut and out of the way before next year’s elections. For the US, this is why the 85-12 vote. There are no illusions in Washington as to what it means. Text here.

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