WORLD
Former United States national security advisor John Bolton has said there is no guarantee that Trump would back India if the situation between Beijing and New Delhi escalates.
Former United States national security advisor John Bolton has said there is no guarantee that Trump would back India if the situation between Beijing and New Delhi escalates.
"I'm not sure how much he understands the significance of the border clash. I don’t think he knows anything about the history of these clashes over the decades between India and China. He may have been briefed on it, but history doesn’t really stick with him," Bolton said, in an exclusive conversation with WION, India’s first international news channel.
The former US NSA told Palki Sharma, WION's Executive Editor, "I don't know which way he would go and I don't think he knows either. I think he sees the geostrategic relationship with China for example exclusively through the prism of trade. And trade is important because China has stolen intellectual property from the United States and other countries, engaged in forceful technology transfers for decades and it forms a major part of their economic success and therefore military power. And that’s really how far it goes."
"I don’t know what Trump will do after the November elections once the guard rail is removed. He'll be back. He won't be criticising Beijing for putting Uyghurs in concentration camps or repressing Hong Kong. He will be back to the big China trade deal. So, if things were to develop between India and China in a more critical fashion, I'm not sure where he would come down," he added.
“Let me make sure, I have understood this right. That if things were to escalate between India and China at this moment, there is no guarantee that Donald Trump will back India against China?” Palki Sharma asked.
“That is correct," Bolton said, adding, “I think his gut instinct for the next four months is to take anything off the table that complicates what is already a difficult election campaign for him. So what he would want is quiet along the border whether it benefits China or India. From his point of view - no news is good news.”
#Gravitas | Former U.S. National Security Advisor @AmbJohnBolton has said that if tensions between India and China escalate, the Trump Administration may not back India. Watch some excerpts from an exclusive interview to WION's Executive Editor @palkisu#JohnBolton pic.twitter.com/8chtVm6sO8
— WION (@WIONews) July 10, 2020
HERE ARE A FEW EXCERPTS FROM THE INTERVIEW:
WION: Do you think things are developing for the worse between India and China? There is a lot of back and forth. The November elections are still a few months away. Do you think it could escalate to a limited conflict?
John Bolton: Well, I hope it does not at the present time because with four months to go for an American election, you are simply not going to get Donald Trump's attention. The fact is China has been behaving in a belligerent fashion, all around its periphery, certainly in the East and South China sea. Its relations with Japan has declined, with India, you are well aware of the facts there.
I think this is China’s effort to assert itself through not just political and military means but also through the Belt and Road initiative and others to gain increased sway over countries that have become economically dependent on it.
Sri Lanka has been subject to this death diplomacy and Pakistan and many countries in Central Asia. I think China has a grand strategy and it's pursuing it, the United States has been asleep at the switch and so have many other countries. It is time to wake up and talk more among ourselves. For example, trilateral been a big advocate of greater tri-lateral cooperation between India, Japan, and the United States and I think that makes a lot of sense.
WION: Why is China on a warpath with the world right now? What do you make of Xi Jinping's moves at a time like this? Why is he picking fights with the world in the middle of a pandemic?
John Bolton: It goes back before the pandemic. He sees American weakness when he sees Donald Trump and I think he is right. When Trump sits across the table with Xi Jinping or Vladimir Putin, it’s not a contest of equals. It always made me worry about what he might give away. The Pandemic has probably persuaded Xi Jinping to be more assertive to cover up as they have been covering up these past 6 months despite how bad the medical effect of the disease was in China and on the Chinese economy and what they did to cover up the source and consequence of the disease.”
It is indicative of the government we are dealing with in Beijing. They didn’t cooperate internationally and tried to use the World Health organization for their own purposes and I'm afraid largely succeeded.
WION: What happened after India's Balakot strikes on Pakistan? How did Trump and the White house assess the situation? What was conveyed to Delhi and Islamabad?
John Bolton: It took place when we were in Hanoi for the second summit with Kim Jong-un and both Mike Pompeo and me were there and away from our base of operations in Washington.
We spent hours on the phone with Ajit Doval and others in India and counterparts in Pakistan. My assessment was and I said publicly at the time and told Ajit as well - we thought India had acted in self-defence and the actions were appropriate and we think there were responsible steps to de-escalate what could have been a very serious crisis.
WION: The US president has repeatedly offered to mediate in Kashmir and he has been told it is a bilateral issue. Why does he keep repeating these offers?
John Bolton: (Laughs) You know, I can remember several times where I have explained India’s longstanding position on Kashmir and it just doesn’t sink in. There is no explanation for it. We tell him India thinks it’s a bilateral issue and it has to be resolved by negotiation with Pakistan. Donald Trump thinks everything is a deal and who better to mediate it than him and you are going to hear it again and if he wins, you are going to hear it for the next four years.
Gurugram woman shares interview experience at Zomato, CEO Deepinder Goyal reacts, says...
'Sir ek kiss ho jaye': Paps unleash a horror welcome on Udit Narayan
Salman Khan, Sanjay Dutt REUNITE for Hollywood thriller, filming begins in Saudi Arabia: Report
Gujarat: Videos of women patients leaked on Telegram, YouTube, probe ordered
South Korean actress Kim Sae-ron found dead at home, cause of death revealed
Canada: Delta Airlines plane crashes at Toronto Pearson airport, flips upside down, several injured
Meet Gyanesh Kumar, IIT graduate, who becomes new Chief Election Commissioner
DNA TV Show: RSS' Bihar model ahead of Assembly elections in state
WPL 2025: Renuka, Wareham spark collapse as RCB bowl out Delhi Capitals for 141
Champions Trophy 2025: Ex-Pak cricketer says Pakistan don't deserve to win, 'Chal jaaye toh...'
Samantha Ruth Prabhu's Dippam Dappam dance leaves Chennai students awestruck, viral video
Breaking MS Dhoni's record is no big deal for Dinesh Karthik: 'It’s not something...'
Amid Mahakumbh rush, video of vehicle running on railway track goes viral; here's why
Who is Rohit Chopra? Indian-origin businessman called arrogant by JPMorgan CEO Jamie Dimon
All eyes on Mohammed bin Salman, as Trump, Putin and Zelensky set to meet in Saudi Arabia for...
WATCH: BJP office bearer dances to ‘Main Hoon Don’ flashing gun, FIR filed
Nepal student death: Massive protests at Odisha's KIIT University, students demand justice
Meet man, son of famous film actor, cracked UPSC exam with full-time job, his AIR was…
Mahakumbh 2025: Fire breaks out again at Prayagraj, no casualties reported
Gautam Adani, India's second richest man, donates Rs 2000 crore for setting up 20...
Dil Madharasi Teaser: Sivakarthikeyan impresses in rugged avatar, to face off against Vidyut Jammwal
‘I am not a...’: Jaya Kishori BREAKS silence on her Rs 2.6 lakh Dior bag controversy, WATCH here
PCB breaks silence on no Indian flags in Pakistani stadiums ahead of Champions Trophy 2025
Delhi residents report hearing mysterious ‘boom’ sound during earthquake; what caused it?
After Narayana Murthy's Infosys, Ratan Tata’s TCS makes BIG announcement, set to issue...
JPMorgan Chase CEO rejects hybrid work requests from employees amid layoffs says, ‘Don’t waste...'
Auspicious Start for 'Jatadhara': Mahurat ceremony held in Hyderabad
Kirill Yurovskiy: How to Build a Sustainable Fashion Brand in the UK
Bad news for Jhunjhunwala as the company loses Rs..., stock goes down by...
Audi launches Audi RS Q8 2025 in India: Know price, specifications and unique features
The Power of Ayurveda: Dr Shyam's Ayurveda Leads the Wellness Revolution in Dubai
15 Crucial Factors to Consider Before Choosing MBBS in Georgia 2025: Education Vibes
Narayana Dominates JEE Main 2025 Session 1 with Exceptional Results
Karan Johar says Yash Johar was 'heartbroken' when Amitabh Bachchan's... flopped: 'He believed...'
Meet Acharya Indravarman: The best astrologer in Bengaluru & Karnataka
How to increase your chances of getting a personal loan
After retaining Asia's richest family tag, now Mukesh Ambani's Reliance beats Apple to become...
Ex-star cricketer, wife buy luxury apartment for Rs 110000000, it is located in...
How a name change caused makers of Bira beer to lose hundreds of crores; know what happened
The Power of Networking: How IFERP memberships open doors to global opportunities for universities
India's Got Latent row: Maharashtra Cyber Cell refuses Samay Raina's special request to...
Mukesh Ambani's wife Nita Ambani makes passionate pitch for Olympics 2036, says 'India will...'
Jyotiraditya Scindia makes BIG announcement on 6G, claims internet speed will be...
Meet man, who was once member of MS Dhoni-led Chennai Super Kings, now works as a bus driver
Did Virat Kohli get special food delivery amid BCCI's 'no personal chef' rule? Report claims...
Gautam Adani's BIG move in space sector, Adani-backed firm among three finalists in India's...
New India Co-op Bank: RBI uncovers massive fraud of Rs 122 crore; know what’s the case
Shakira hospitalised due to abdominal pain, apologises to fans for cancelling Peru concert
South Korean actress Kim Sae-ron of A Brand New Life fame found dead at 24
'Life-threatening cold' ALERT in US as Polar Vortex, snow, floods grip America: What does that mean?
Cristiano Ronaldo vs Lionel Messi, who is better? 66 per cent of former footballers believe...
Champions Trophy 2025: No Indian flag in Lahore Stadium sparks controversy ahead of tournament
After strong tremors in Delhi-NCR, 4.0 magnitude earthquake jolts Bihar's Siwan
Delhi-NCR earthquake: Netizens react with hilarious memes amid 4.0 magnitude tremors, check here
BAFTA: Payal Kapdia's All We Imagine As Light faces another disappointment, films loses to...
Student paraglides to college after getting late for exam, netizens react, watch viral video
Israeli PM Benjamin Netanyahu issues BIG warning to Hamas: 'Gates of hell will...'
Delhi-NCR Earthquake Today: Tremors of magnitude 4 jolt Delhi and adjoining areas
This film has broken world box office records, not Hollywood, Bollywood but...