more-inThe Dokalam standoff between India and China had put the Trump administration in an awkward position and it was not eager to get embroiled in, especially at a time when it was grappling with North Korea and seeking Beijing’s assistance, an American expert has said. India and China on Monday ended their 73-day standoff in Dokalam by withdrawing troops from the area, just days before Prime Minister Narendra Modi’s visit to China to attend the BRICS (Brazil, Russia, India, China and South Africa) summit. Jeff Smith, research fellow, South Asia, The Heritage Foundation, said that the Trump administration was put in an uncomfortable position by the Dokalam crisis. “India clearly articulated its goals and it achieved those goals,” he said, adding that China has been very successful in gray zone coercion tactics in the South China Sea and elsewhere. According to Mr. Smith, whoever was advising the Chinese government and proposed that strategy failed to account for India’s resolve on the matter.

Source: The Hindu September 01, 2017 11:48 UTC