America 'disrupts' the Russia - China - India trio?

(Baonghean) - On December 11, Indian Foreign Minister Sushma Swaraj chaired a trilateral foreign ministers' meeting with her two counterparts, Chinese Foreign Minister Wang Yi and Russian Foreign Minister Sergei Lavrov.

This meeting is expected to cool down the China-India tension as well as find common ground among the three countries. However, a series of conflicts still exist in the Russia-India-China triangle, which seems to continue to hinder the group's strategic goal of changing the US's position as the number 1 superpower.

Russian Foreign Minister Sergei Lavrov (center) shakes hands with Indian Foreign Minister Sushma Swaraj (right) and Chinese Foreign Minister Wang Yi (left) (Source: Sputnik

Terrorism: A Rare Common Concern

Scheduled to take place in April this year, it was not until nearly half a year later that the 15th meeting between the Foreign Ministers of Russia, China and India (abbreviated as RIC) took place.

The delay was due to escalating tensions between China and India since late March, when Beijing was furious when New Dehli allowed the Dalai Lama to visit the disputed border area between the two countries, the state of Arunachial Pradesh.

Chinese Foreign Ministry spokesman Lu Kang warned that India's actions would cause serious damage to bilateral relations.

With Russia’s mediation efforts, tensions between China and India have cooled down somewhat. The meeting of the three foreign ministers also found some common ground to bring the parties together.

It is the fight against terrorism in Pakistan, or strengthening the voices of the three countries in maintaining peace, stability and building a regional security structure. The three countries of Russia - China - India also want to use this meeting to demonstrate their role in forums such as the East Asia Summit (EAS), and at the same time support India in preparing to join APEC if the opportunity arises.

More importantly, the meeting of the foreign ministers of the three countries is considered to be a determination to support a multipolar world, strengthen the voice of the trio in the region and the world, thereby changing the current "hegemonic" position of the US.

Overlapping contradictions

That is the goal, but in reality, it is a "monitor lizard" hindering the efforts of all three countries. First of all, everyone realizes that China, India and Russia are coming together not to seek a truly sustainable relationship but for the strategic interests of each side.

If Russia wants the Russia-China-India trio to create a strong enough cooperative relationship to counter the West after the sanctions, China wants to spread its economic strategy, and India expects to receive support in the fight against terrorism.

Therefore, some even say that these three are too different and that the three-way meetings are just a facade.

It is not difficult to explain this statement. In the Sino-Indian relationship, the conflict and border tension between the two sides have been persistent for a long time. Most recently in June this year, tensions broke out when India prevented China from building a road through the Doklam plateau in the Himalayas - a hot spot of dispute between China, India and Bhutan.

Border tensions in China-India relations are one of the barriers in the “Russia-China-India” trilateral relationship (Source: India Today)

Not only that, these two countries also constantly compete for influence in the South Asian region. Looking back since 2015, China has risen to replace India as Bangladesh's largest trading partner as well as gradually warming up relations with Nepal and Sri Lanka.

The “Belt and Road” initiative or the Asian Infrastructure Investment Bank (AIIB), with many members being South Asian countries, is no different from a challenge to India.

Meanwhile, Russia-India relations are under threat as Russia is actively working with Pakistan - India's counterweight - through arms deals and annual anti-terrorism exercises.

Of course, Pakistan is also increasingly leaning towards China, especially in Beijing’s “Belt and Road” project. Public opinion must remember that Pakistan handed over the strategic port of Gwadar to China in 2013.

The American factor

Faced with China’s expansionist intentions in the Indian Ocean, India, in its insecurity, has taken many steps to strengthen relations with the US in order to seek security support in the region. Of course, this will cause disagreement between both Russia and China.

As for the US, it has not missed the opportunity to “cause division” among the three countries. As in October, US Secretary of State Rex Tillerson did not hesitate to describe India as a partner in the US’s strategic relationship, while emphasizing that the US will never have a similar relationship with China.

Meanwhile, US President Donald Trump is being assessed as having a good “big game” with all three countries, Russia, India and China. Because clearly, all three countries have great benefits when cooperating with the US.

For India, it is the issue of ensuring security in South Asia and the Indian Ocean; for China, it is economic-trade cooperation and the North Korean issue, and for Russia, it is a common concern with international hot issues.

It is said that if one day the three-way relationship: Russia - China - India falls apart, the US factor will be considered as the first important factor.

Not only that, India is also hatching a plan for a quadrilateral “US – Australia – Japan – India” to counter China in the Asia-Pacific region. This is no different from “showing respect but not being satisfied” in shaking hands with China.

Therefore, although all three countries, Russia - China - India, play an important role in the bloc of major emerging economies (BRICS) and are partners in the Shanghai Cooperation Organization (SCO), cooperation between the three sides still has too many differences and conflicts due to strategic interests.

Therefore, perhaps this meeting of the Foreign Ministers of the three countries will only stop at the efforts of the countries to move towards a more open relationship!

Phuong Hoa