How the US is ceding Asian geopolitical space to China

As they have in the past, India-China relations are once again improving. There is a pattern here. Conflict, tension and freeze are followed by thaw, engagement and a degree of warmth.

- Atul Mishra

However, the latest round of reset in Delhi-Beijing ties is also guided by the fact that the US is ceding Asia's geopolitical space to China. This is leading to a dramatic rise in China's profile. And it is compelling America’s allies and partners to mend relations with Beijing, despite misgivings.

Nearly eight months after President Donald Trump took office, there is no clarity about his administration’ policy visa-vis China’s growing power and influence across Asia and the Indo-Pacific. If one follows Trump's brief, intermittent remarks on any subject over a period of time, one can get a reasonably good sense of what his approach to an issue is. And on this basis, we can tell that he wants to fiercely compete with Beijing on technology, particularly AI. We also know that he is seeking a rationalisation of bilateral trade with China. But he hasn't spoken much on the issue of China and Asian geopolitics. Put differently, there isn’t enough in his public speeches and remarks so far to indicate whether he will continue with past American policy of balancing Chinese power and containing Beijing’s influence across Asia and the Indian Ocean.

However, there is plenty of indirect evidence, which indicates that President Trump may not be enthusiastic about balancing China in Asia. That, in fact, he may be fine with letting China have an increased profile and influence across the region.