The India Card

One of the shrewdest and most calculating diplomatic acts by an American president was Richard Nixon's visit to China in 1972. Having spent decades in complete isolation from the rest of the world, President Nixon's visit to the People's Republic was a stunning act to all within the United States and throughout the world. As a product of Henry Kissinger's infamous "realpolitik", the president's trip was designed to not only strengthen his political standing at home (1972 was an election year), but to use China as leverage against the Soviet Union. Nixon was playing "The China Card", as it has been famously dubbed, using warmer relations with the Chinese to foster suspicion within the Soviet Union over a possible alliance between the U.S. and China and subsequently force the Soviets into arms reduction negotiations with Washington. It worked.

The Bush Administration is now borrowing a page out of this diplomatic playbook, instead employing the India card against China. Though it has received no press attention, the president and Secretary Rice are quietly trying to lay the groundwork for an Indian-American relationship that would foster India's elevation as a world power. The reason for this is simple, an Indian world power aligned with the U.S. would prove to be a strong check on Chinese influence in Asia and the world. China is growing at a troubling rate, and their hostility towards Taiwan and democracy in general automatically makes Chinese hegemony in the region an unwelcome development for American interests. Currently it is in neither China's nor America's interests to confront each other. This could easily change down the road.

The only nation in the region with the size and capability of matching China is India, which means a powerful and democratic India is in America's best interests. An American-Indian super alliance would go a long ways in deterring the Chinese from moving on Taiwan and other countries, and it would insure that there is a military alliance capable of defeating the Chinese should they act belligerently.

For an administration that is criticized for being unilateral and reckless in foreign policy, this is an astute attempt at fostering a long-term relationship that will reap lasting benefits for America's geopolitical interests in the 21st Century.

Hat Tip: Power Line