Citation

Kissel M. World Affairs 2011; 174(4): 40-46.

Copyright

(Copyright © 2011, World Affairs Institute, Publisher SAGE Publishing)

DOI

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PMID

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Abstract

Mary Kissel discusses why Washington is ignoring India, the world's largest democracy. While it remains standoffish with India, the Obama administration has been obsequious with China, although this approach has yielded little. Beijing is flexing its military muscles more strongly than ever, claiming vast regions of the South China Sea as territorial waters, harassing Japanese and Filipino naval vessels, picking diplomatic fights with Vietnam, exerting its influence over Burma and Nepal, shielding North Korea at the United Nations after Pyongyang's deadly attacks on South Korea, and more. Afghanistan soon turned into another point of contention. India has invested a good deal of blood and treasure there in an effort to curb Pakistan's influence over the country and support US efforts. A suicide bomber attacked the Indian Embassy in Kabul in 2008, killing more than fifty staffers and injuring more than one hundred and forty.

Language: en

Keywords

United States; India; China; terrorism; international relations; democracy; Pacific Ocean; Beijing [China]; South China Sea; Washington [United States]