Outgoing US envoy Juster backs India as alternative mfg hub; cites difficulty with China

Outgoing US envoy to India, Kenneth Juster, on Tuesday opined that India has a strategic opportunity to become an alternative manufacturing destination in the Indo-Pacific region as the focus has shifted to the Indo Pacific with the rise of China and also due to several countries including the US finding it increasingly difficult to operate in China.

Speaking at his farewell address on the US-India partnership, Juster said "The region (Indo Pacific) is rich in natural resources and it is fast becoming the centre of gravity of the evolving international system. Indeed, the tectonic plates of that system have shifted marked especially by the rise of China and more recently by the impact of the COVID-19 pandemic which has devastated health, and economy in the Indo-Pacific and elsewhere."

"As the US and other countries find it increasingly difficult to operate in China or seek to diversify way from Chinese led supply chains. India has a strategic opportunity to become an alternative manufacturing destination in the Indo-Pacific region," he added.

Juster's statements come in the context of the world economy taking a massive blow owing to the deadly Coronavirus pandemic, and thousands of foreign companies mulling to move their manufacturing bases from China to other countries.

Read his full speech:

US Ambassador Juster's Farewell Address by Republic World on Scribd

Ken Juster also noted that outgoing US President Donald Trump in 2017 had described America’s vision for a free and open Indo-Pacific enabling the independent and sovereign nations with diverse cultures to prosper together “side by side” and thrive in both freedom as well as in peace. In the farewell policy address, Juster elaborated on the ambition and the milestones achieved in the US-India partnership throughout the last four years of Trump administration.

"US government is dedicated to not just bilateral relationships but to supporting India's rise on the world stage. US National Security Strategy put it down on paper in 2017, welcoming India's emergence as a leading power and a stronger strategic and defence partner," he said.

"The Indo Pacific is particularly significant for India and US relationship because it recognises the reality that India and Indian ocean are inextricably tied to the East Asia and Pacific. India's expanding economy is likely to become an important driver for growth in the region," he added.

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Criticisms on China

China has been facing criticisms from several countries across the world for a number of serious issues. China's unilateral aggressive expansionist policy and claiming sovereignty over disputed territories has isolated the communist country on the international forum. The communist country indulged in repeated border skirmishes with India at the Ladakh region, leading to serious escalations between the two countries. With regards to the South China sea, the countries that are a part of the Association of Southeast Asian Nations (ASEAN) had also called out the Chinese bullying in the region.

Moreover, the Coronavirus Pandemic's origination from China has raised the suspicion on China with the World Health Organisation launching an investigation into finding the source of the virus.

(with inputs from ANI)

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