Obama says good relations with India are not a threat to China

img Surprised at the Chinese reaction over his visit to India, US President Barack Obama has said there is no reason for Beijing to be threatened by a good relationship between New Delhi and Washington.
“I was surprised when I heard that the Chinese government had put out these statements. China doesn’t need to be threatened because we have good relations with India,” Obama said.
In his interview, which was taped in New Delhi on 27 January, the last day of his three-day India trip, Obama referred to his November visit to China and said he had some very successful meetings with his Chinese counterpart.
“My belief is that in this moment in history, there’s an opportunity to create a win-win formula in which all countries are abiding by a common set of rules and standards and we’re focused on lifting up prosperity for our people, not at the expense of others, but together with each other. That’s what my discussions with Prime Minister (Narendra) Modi have focused on,” Obama said.
The US President said he has continuously emphasised that it is very much in America’s interest to see a peaceful rise of China.
“What’s dangerous for us is a destabilised and impoverished and disintegrating China. It’s much better for us if China is doing well,” he said.
“But what we’ve said since the start of my term in office is China’s growth shouldn’t be at the expense of other folks. It shouldn’t bully small countries like Vietnam or Philippines around maritime issues, but try to resolve those peacefully in accordance with international law. It shouldn’t manipulate its currencies to get itself trading advantages that others don’t have,” Obama asserted.
“Sometimes we’ve been successful in getting a response from China on those issues. Sometimes less so. I care deeply about China’s success. I want to make sure that we continue to maintain a constructive relationship,” he said.

Check Also

Hopes and Uncertainties in Syria

Many Western leaders have expressed their relief at the collapse of the dictatorship of Syria’s …