Close X
Saturday, November 23, 2024
ADVT 
India

India Flags China Card As US Is Unmoved On Exemption For Iran Oil

IANS, 26 Apr, 2019 06:24 PM

    As more trouble is brewing for India’s relationship with the trans-Atlantic alliance, India has subtly displayed the China card. It is opting to push upfront a possible middle-of-the-year summit meeting between the Prime Minister and Chinese President Xi Jinping as a certainty to indicate its alternative options.


    The meeting with US State Department’s top official for South Asia Alice Wells on Wednesday and Thursday brought little joy for Indian diplomats and bureaucrats on the Iran oil issue.


    Wells referred to Secretary of State Mike Pompeo’s categorical statement asking India and seven other countries to whittle their oil imports down to zero by May 2 while declining the extension of a special exemption to India.


    While China and Turkey have taken the defiance route, India has opted for a lower pitch in public by displaying assuredness in locating alternative supply sources due to the impending loss of at least 13 million tones of Iran-sourced oil.


    The US has opened a new pressure point after it placed India on a priority watch list for deficiencies in its intellectual property rights framework. Its ally, the UK, has approached the UN alleging police torture of its citizen Christian Michael, the alleged middleman in the Agusta-Westland deal. After being extradited to India by its new-found ally the UAE, Michael is among the few prisoners allowed to be interrogated despite being in judicial custody.


    India is choosing to highlight an upcoming meeting with Chinese President Xi Jinping which will have a different tone and tenor.


    The meeting, to be held here mid-year, will be in the same format as the Wuhan “informal” summit last April where PM Modi and Xi conversed without official paraphernalia over two days for a total of 10 hours. Although both leaders had decided on a follow-up “informal” summit at Wuhan itself, both China and India have flagged it recently to play down differences on the Belt and Road Initiative and the Masood Azhar blacklisting issue.


    At that time, India had sought to set the right environment by cooling down its ties with the exiled Tibetan community and refraining from responding in kind to the Chinese criticism of Indian leaders visiting Arunachal Pradesh.


    India, however, remains on course for a stronger security relationship with the US though trade ties are facing turbulence because of the mood in Washington to review duty-free Indian exports of Rs 40,000 crore. A senior Pentagon official is here to tie up the loose ends of talks with Wells in the defence sector. US pointsman on Afghanistan Zalmay Khalilzad is due next in Delhi to address India’s concerns and involvement in settlement with the Taliban.

    MORE India ARTICLES

    Jallianwala Bagh Massacre: A pivotal moment in Indian history

    Jallianwala Bagh Massacre: A pivotal moment in Indian history

    Jallianwala Bagh Massacre: A pivotal moment in Indian history

    Pakistani PM Has No Right To Interfere In Our Elections: Asaduddin Owaisi

    AIMIM leader Asaduddin Owaisi, who is seeking re-election from Hyderabad, was speaking after casting his vote at a polling booth here under the Chevella parliamentary constituency.

    Pakistani PM Has No Right To Interfere In Our Elections: Asaduddin Owaisi

    Heads Turn As World's Smallest Woman Jyoti Amge Arrives To Vote In Nagpur

    Sporting a red-and-checks sleeveless dress, the 25-year-old woman at 2 feet, 1 inch, patiently stood in the queue and exercised her franchise.

    Heads Turn As World's Smallest Woman Jyoti Amge Arrives To Vote In Nagpur

    VIDEO: Sikh Truck Driver Confronts UP Cop With A Sword After He Allegedly Pulled His Beard

    A Sikh truck driver confronted the Uttar Pradesh cops with a sword after they tugged his beard during an argument on a highway in the state's Shamli district on Tuesday.    

    VIDEO: Sikh Truck Driver Confronts UP Cop With A Sword After He Allegedly Pulled His Beard

    Breakthrough Soon On Fugitives Choksi, Mehta As Govt Pursues Big Four

    Breakthrough Soon On Fugitives Choksi, Mehta As Govt Pursues Big Four
    Government sources have indicated to IANS that they are pursuing four quarries - Vijay Mallya, Nirav Modi, Mehul Choksi and Jatin Mehta - all economic offenders and fugitives from the law relentlessly.

    Breakthrough Soon On Fugitives Choksi, Mehta As Govt Pursues Big Four

    Chinese Man Arrested At Delhi Airport For Smuggling Gold Worth Rs. 23 Lakh

    A detailed personal and baggage search of the Chinese passenger resulted in the recovery of one gold chain, gold bar and a gold bracelet, collectively weighing 734 grams.  

    Chinese Man Arrested At Delhi Airport For Smuggling Gold Worth Rs. 23 Lakh