Did Trump’s Secretary of Defense Nominee James Mattis Just Hint At An India-China Standoff?

President-elect Donald Trump's selection to be defense secretary, James “Mad Dog” Mattis, appeared before the Senate for a confirmation hearing to answer advance policy questions. During the session, he answered multiple questions on India, Pakistan, China and other issues concerning defence and security.

Talking about US-India security partnership, he said that the relationship between the two countries is of utmost importance and is based on convergence of interests. Laying special emphasis on India’s Act-East policy, Mattis said that this allows India to play a “greater role in contributing to security in the Asia-Pacific region”. Emphasising on the need to secure trade routes in the Indian Ocean, where China has significantly increased interference in recent times, he clubbed India with US treaty allies - Japan and Australia - and said that the country can play and important part.

This is particularly important because the Indo-US maritime relationship has grown in the recent past. India, which looks at the Indian ocean as an area of primary importance, is also concerned about security in the Indian Ocean Region. With deteriorating relationship between New Delhi and Beijing, and the former’s improving relationship with the US and its allies, an India-China standoff in the Indian ocean and South China Sea can’t be ruled out.