India faces 'significant challenges' from China, US report

India faces significant geopolitical challenges from China and its behaviour on the Line of Actual Control (LAC), stated the White House on Friday in its Indo-Pacific strategic report. The Chinese coercion spans the globe, the report stated, but it is most acute in the Indo-Pacific. The Indo-Pacific strategic report was released as part of the Quad Ministerial with foreign ministers of Australia, India, Japan and the US, which is underway in Australia. The ministers expressed concerns over the malign Chinese role in the region.

"India faces very significant challenges. China's behaviour on the Line of Actual Control has had a galvanizing impact on India. From our standpoint, we see tremendous opportunities in working with another democracy - with a country that has a maritime tradition that understands the importance of the global commons - to advance critical issues in the region,”  The White House has said that the US will continue to build a “strategic partnership” in which Washington and New Delhi will work together in South Asia, collaborate in new domains and contribute to a free and open Indo-Pacific amid China’s increasingly assertive and aggressive behaviour. The US recognises India as a “like-minded partner and leader in South Asia”. 

Our Indo-Pacific Strategy sets forth a vision for a region that is free and open, connected, prosperous, secure, and resilient. As an Indo-Pacific nation, we're committed to working with our allies and partners to make that vision a reality. https://t.co/JU3Y2SqN4r

— Secretary Antony Blinken (@SecBlinken) February 11, 2022

Washington sees New Delhi’s role in QUAD as a “very high priority” as it has a “very significant” element including the much-enhanced ability to speak frankly about issues in the region.