Russian and Chinese military planes conducted a joint exercise close to Japan’s airspace, forcing Tokyo – which was hosting the Quad summit – to scramble its own jets in response. This was the first joint exercise between Beijing and Moscow since Russia’s invasion of Ukraine and showcases increasing military convergence between them. Equally portentous is Russian defence minister Sergei Shoigu saying his country’s military operations in Ukraine will continue until all objectives are met. This shows Moscow is in no mood to end the war anytime soon and is preparing for a long-drawn-out conflict.
Both developments present a serious challenge to the international community. It’s clear that Russia and China have decided to form a close strategic-military compact to take on what they see as Western hegemony and rewrite the international rules-based order. Both countries also nurse deep-seated grudges. While the Russian leadership as embodied by President Vladimir Putin never fully got over the collapse of the Soviet Union, China wants to right what it sees as 100 years of humiliation between the 19th and 20th centuries and restore the glory of the Middle Kingdom.
The fact on the ground is that both countries are coordinating their foreign policies to achieve mutual goals. Therefore, for the foreseeable future there will not be much daylight between Moscow and Beijing. In fact, there is now a serious possibility that Beijing will use Moscow for its strategic security aims in the Indo-Pacific. This certainly puts India in a tough spot given its considerable military ties to Russia and its continuing confrontation with China along the Himalayas.
Hitherto New Delhi has pretty much stuck to its ingrained non-aligned position, refusing to condemn Russia for its invasion of Ukraine. But while Indian foreign policy must serve Indian interests, the current geopolitical situation demands that New Delhi takes issue-based stands along with the West. A good model here is Vietnam. Despite its party-to-party relations with Beijing, Hanoi staunchly defends its maritime-territorial claims in the South China Sea against Chinese belligerence and has joined the Japan-led Comprehensive and Progressive Agreement for Trans-Pacific Partnership and the recently launched US-led Indo-Pacific Economic Framework. Vietnam also has historic ties with Russia as the Soviet Union strongly aided it during the Vietnam War. But this hasn’t prevented it from developing close ties with the US. If communist Vietnam can take such nimble positions, India should, too. Staying permanently neutral on Russia if the Ukraine war gets even uglier and as the Moscow-Beijing axis gets stronger is not a smart diplomatic position for India.
Dr.Lamba's Awakening Call 