Asia Society urges Biden to expand scope of relationship with India

  incoming Biden ministration has a real window to nurture a natural partnership with India, Asia Society has said, urging President-elect to expand scope of bilateral relationship to elevate health, digital, and climate cooperation.ting that Joe Biden has an opportunity to consolidate and accelerate relationship by creating a substantive and bro partnership with India, which can undergird US policy in Asia and support US, it also urges Biden to turn p to a positive commercial nda that emphasises reform and openness.

Among or recommendations for Biden ministration include renewed US leership and regional consultation in face of China’s rise and emphasise shared values as foundation of relationship.Authored by Anubhav Gupta, associate director with Asia Society Policy Institute (ASPI) in New York, report says that travel will remain difficult in 2021 due to COVID-19, it would be useful for President Biden to visit India in 2022 and eng with Prime Minister Narendra Modi at multilateral garings whenever possible.

"In 2013, Biden became first vice president to visit India in three deces. Kamala Harris, first South Asian American vice president, should follow in his footsteps," Gupta wrote.

In meantime, ministration should arrange early conversations and dialogues at ministerial and working levels and fill key ncy positions related to India expeditiously, unlike under President Donald Trump. Biden ministration, report said, should immediately create a dialogue track to eng India on COVID-19.

As former Assistant US Tre Representative Mark Linscott suggests, two governments would benefit from a regular dialogue mechanism on pandemic-related matters, including exchanging views and coordinating ir positions on global rules regarding tre in medical supplies, it said.Biden, a Democrat, is set to be inaugurated as 46th US President on January 20.

Urging Biden ministration to scrap outgoing Trump ministration’s immigration policies and move past tre dispute, report says that upon review of various worker visas, it should consider increasing number of high-skilled visas as well as eliminating limit on employment-based visas based on country.In dition, as promised during campaign, it should craft a comprehensive immigration reform bill that ensures that United States remains welcoming to job creators and invators and provides a pathway to citizenship for undocumented residents.

Such a policy would benefit nearly 500,000 Indians who are currently residing in United States illegally and would be welcomed by Indian government, Indian American community, as well as American business community, it said. Asia Society in its report said that ultimately, India will want to see United States marshal a more coordinated diplomatic effort and a whole-of-government approach to China.To earn India’s continued support with regard to China, Washington may need to stand up for allies and partners in face of Chinese bullying, and t just in cases relevant to India; continue to apply ecomic pressure on Beijing to reform its ecomy toward fair market principles.

It also urges US to return to a visible, leership role in regional and multilateral organisations when it comes to maintenance of regional peace and security, protection of global commons, and vancement of shared values; increase investment in IDFC to enhance global infrastructure development projects endorsed by Blue Dot Network to raise regional standards for infrastructure and development and put pressure on China’s Belt and Ro Initiative; and redouble research and investments in techlogy to undermine China’s vants in that area.ting that keeping India apprised of any changes in US policy toward Pakistan and Afghanistan will be critical, report says that while Biden ministration must be prepared for likely eventuality of ar India-Pakistan crisis, it would be wise to try to reduce that possibility by pressuring Islamab in bilateral and multilateral talks to clamp down on cross-border terrorism into India.

Asia Society said that it will be a tightrope walk, but Biden ministration should t hesitate to voice support for human rights, democratic institutions, and rule of law as it deals with any of its partners, including India. 

(IM CREDITS:PTI)