The US Needs India to Buffer China, and Modi Knows It

美国需要印度来制衡中国，莫迪深知这一点

The killing of a Sikh separatist in Canada in June, allegedly by agents of Prime Minister Narendra Modi’s Indian government, has opened a rift between one of America’s closest allies and one of its most vital geopolitical partners. It has also illustrated an unavoidable irony of President Joe Biden’s foreign policy.

今年6月，印度总理纳伦德拉·莫迪领导的印度政府派特工在加拿大杀害了一名锡克教分离主义者，这一事件在美国最亲密的盟友之一与最重要的地缘政治伙伴之一之间制造了裂痕。这也反应了乔·拜登总统外交政策的可笑之处。

Biden aims to bolster a threatened global order by hastening India’s rise. As India rises, however, it will act in ways that sometimes challenge the very order Washington must defend. And if Biden’s team believes, as Asia policy czar Kurt Campbell has said, that the US and India have “the most important bilateral relationship on the planet,” then Washington will probably tolerate a lot of bad behavior to keep that relationship intact.

拜登希望通过加速印度的崛起来巩固受到威胁的全球秩序。但随着印度的崛起，印度的行为方式偶尔也会挑战华盛顿必须捍卫的秩序。如果拜登的团队相信美国和印度拥有“地球上最重要的双边关系”，那么华盛顿可能会容忍印度的许多不良行为来维护这种关系的完整性。

The geopolitical case for US-India cooperation is unimpeachable. Way back in 1904, British polymath Sir Halford Mackinder explained why.

Thanks to the modernization of both technology and tyranny, he wrote, there was a growing possibility that aggressive powers would dominate Eurasia and control its unmatched resources. So the era’s liberal hegemon, Great Britain, must cultivate “bridge heads” on the edges of the supercontinent — Korea, France and India — so it could keep the world in balance by kee Eurasia divided.

美印合作的地缘政治理由无懈可击。早在1904年，英国博学家哈尔福德·麦金德爵士就解释了原因。

他写道，由于技术和暴证的现代化，侵略性大国主宰欧亚大陆并控制其无可比拟的资源的可能性越来越大。因此，这个时代的自由主义霸主英国必须在这个超级大陆的边缘—韩国、法国和印度—培养“桥塔”，这样它就可以维持欧亚大陆的分裂状态，保持世界的平衡。

India is no less critical as a global manufacturing hub, a contributor to resilient technological supply chains, and a diplomatic leader of the develo world. This is why Biden has so prioritized strengthening US-India relations by hosting Modi for a state visit in Washington, hel make the recent G-20 meeting a showcase for Modi’s leadership, and pursuing deeper cooperation across the board.

作为全球制造业中心、弹性技术供应链的贡献者和发展中国家的外交领袖，印度至关重要。这就是为什么拜登如此重视加强美印关系的原因，他邀请莫迪对华盛顿进行国事访问，帮助最近的20国集团会议展示莫迪的领导能力，并寻求全面深入的合作。

以下是reddit网友的评价：

Rethious • 5 days ago

India’s a buffer whether it likes it or not. The US is interested in making them as much of thorn in China’s plans as possible. The border issue means even if US-Indian relations go south, India will still be opposed to China.

不管喜不喜欢，印度都是一个缓冲器。美国有意让印度变成一根针对中国的毒刺。中印边境问题意味着即使美印关系恶化，印度依然会反对中国。

iVarun • 5 days ago

And this is why the article title is misleading, esp in short to medium term

这就是为什么这篇文章的标题具有误导性的原因，特别是在中短期内尤为突出。

That_Shape_1094 • 5 days ago

But there are different ways of opposing China. Freezing patrols and having more talks with China is also "opposing China, but that does not actually help America.

但是反对中国的方式有很多种，暂停巡逻和与中国开展更多对话也是一种，但这实际上对美国没有帮助。

diacewrb • 5 days ago

But it is still a slap in canada's face, after they made a big song and dance about india then america and the rest of the west refuses to hit hard with sanctions.

但这还是甩在加拿大脸上的一记耳光，他们对着印度一通操作，但美国和其他西方国家依然拒绝制裁印度。

Rethious • 5 days ago

I don’t think there’s any suggestion Canada wanted sanctions. At the end of the day, you don’t have to like people when it comes to foreign policy to align with them strategically. The purpose of exposing this was to embarrass the Indian government and deter similar actions. If India thought it could get away with it, it’s more likely to kill again.

我不认为有任何迹象表明加拿大想要制裁印度。归根结底，在外交政策方面，你不一定喜欢对方，但还是可以在战略上保持一致。加拿大曝光此事的目的是让印度政府难堪，并阻止类似的行动再次发生。否则如果印度认为自己能逃避责罚，就有可能再次行动。

diacewrb • 5 days ago

I think that there was the expectation after saudi arabia, the west got it badly wrong when biden fist bumped the crown prince after all that promise of hard action.

It sent the message you could get away with it so long as you are too big and too important to the west.

拜登在承诺对沙特阿拉伯采取强硬行动后，又跟王储称兄道弟，西方大为错愕。

这件事传递出的信息是，只要你对西方而言很大、很重要，你就可以逍遥自在。

diacewrb • 5 days ago

Human rights and the rule of law ended up being nothing more than sticks to bash countries the west simply didn't like or need at the end of the day.

人*和法治也不过是西方冲不喜欢或不需要的国家挥舞的棍棒。

Major-Test2826 • 5 days ago

The whole thing is extremely popular in India domestically and the Western response has been extremely timid. This incident wasn’t even mentioned in the readout of the Blinken Jaishankar meeting. If anything Modi will be more emboldened

这起事件在印度国内非常受欢迎，而西方的反应却非常谨慎。布林肯和苏杰生的会晤报告中甚至只字未提。否则莫迪会更受鼓舞。

khee-khe-khee • 5 days ago

It keeps your forces tied up, the preparation of sorties you need to have and ships you need to have incase war breaks out with India

这起事件让部队焦头烂额，你必须准备出动飞机和船只，防止跟印度之间爆发战争

CreepyDepartment5509 • 5 days ago

So they can say its an “international” thing, guess other countries are wising up that Australia isn’t a real country..

所以他们可以说这是一起“国际”事件，我猜其他国家开始意识到澳大利亚并不是一个真正的国家…

Neat_Passion_6767 • 5 days ago

In fact I thought it was crazy that DC is made into believing India can help US in South China Sea. Can they check out a map, the look at the state of the Indian navy?

事实上，我认为华盛顿相信印度可以在南海帮助美国的想法是异想天开。他们能不能先看看地图，看看印度海军的现状？

Zhao_DaShuai • 5 days ago

India needs to milk the US for everything they've got while they still can. F35, JASSM-ER, Rapid Dragon, tech transfer, co-manufacturing for engines, rockets, semiconductors, etc.

印度应该抓紧时间从美国身上榨取他们一切。F35, JASSM-ER，迅龙，技术转让，发动机、火箭和半导体等的联合制造。

CreepyDepartment5509 • 5 days ago

They got a free pass after assassinating a citizen in their client state.

他们在客户国暗杀一名公民后，获得了赦免。

ShaidarHaran2 • 5 days ago

It's not actually clear which of the countries you mean by what you said. It's only normalized when western countries do it.

实际上我还不清楚你所说的是哪些国家。西方国家这么做才是正常的。

khee-khe-khee • 5 days ago

West isnt fool anymore, they have wised up after being milked up by China

西方国家已经没那么傻了，他们被中国欺骗后开始学聪明了。

bjran8888 • 5 days ago

The US isn't stupid, they didn't give China these technologies. China came up with these technologies on its own.

美国才不傻呢，他们并没有把技术送给中国。这些技术是中国自己琢磨出来的。

Arcosim • 5 days ago

The F-35 and a lot of the systems you've mentioned can be turned off remotely by the US.

F-35和你提到的很多武器系统都可以被美国远程关闭。

jorvis_nonof • 5 days ago

India has engineers smart enough to bypass these remote-disable systems if need be. India is not the Congo. It is a country that puts robots on the moon for less than a fraction of the price of a single F-35. It has ample technical capabilities.

如果有必要，印度也有足够聪明的工程师可以绕过这些远程禁用系统的限制。印度可不是刚果。这个国家能把机器人送上月球，而且发射成本还不到一架F-35的九牛一毛。印度拥有充足的技术能力。

Suspicious_Loads • 5 days ago

Does US need India more than India needs US? China is fighting India in Himalaya not US. China influence Indian backyard like Sri Lanka.

US could still fight China without Indian assistance but India will probably loose if they fought China without US assistance.

美国对印度的依赖多过印度对美国的需要吗？中国正在喜马拉雅山脉和印度作战，对手并不是美国。中国可以左右印度的后院，比如斯里兰卡。

如果没有印度的帮助，美国也能够与中国作战，但如果没有美国的帮助，印度可能会输。

Ankur67 • 5 days ago

I don’t think , India would gain anything from West unlike China’s in Cold War , automation wasn’t that much developed as well as China made full of Globalisation

我不认为印度能从西方获得任何东西，印度不像冷战时期的中国，自动化程度并不发达，也不像中国制造能够遍布全球。

ChineseMaple • 4 days ago

India absolutely stands to gain a ton from the West, what are you on about.

印度绝对能从西方国家身上获得巨多好处，你听听自己在说啥呢。

ChineseMaple • 4 days ago

Automation isn't buying a manfacutorumdroid and telling it to go build you engines

自动化可不是购买一个制造机器人，然后让它开始为你制造引擎

Temple_T • 5 days ago

If Modi keeps having people killed in Western countries, he will learn that the graveyard of history is full of "natural allies"

如果莫迪继续在西方国家杀人，他就会发现历史的墓地里到处都是“天然盟友”。

BodybuilderOk3160 • 5 days ag

Sucks for them, Modi's never regarded US as "allies" in the first place. We're happy with what US has to proffer though.

他们都是一群烂人，莫迪从始至终都没有把美国当成“盟友”。不过，我们对美国提供的好处十分满意。

bjran8888 • 5 days ago

Translation:The U.S. can't confront China head-on, so it wants India to be a proxy against China.

Unfortunately, India is not stupid, think about it, do the Indians want to be the next China or the next Japan?

换句话说：美国无法与中国正面对抗，所以希望把印度变成制衡中国的棋子。

可惜印度才不蠢呢，想想看呗，印度人是想成为下一个中国还是下一个日本？

No-Tea-9993 • 5 days ago

Other than forming an alliance with India anything India does is a step towards containment.

除了与印度结盟，印度所做的一切都是朝着遏制中国的方向前进。

Reed2Ewing2Robinson • 5 days ago

US needs India as a defense buffer. India needs US for economic growth.

美国需要印度作为国防缓冲带。印度经济的增长需要美国的帮助。

praqueviver • 5 days ago

This is the best time for India to get concessions out of the US

这是印度迫使美国让步的最佳时机。

helpfulovenmitt • 4 days ago

Like other BRICS nations they are weak, you are a living testament to the weakness.

和其他金砖国家一样，中国也很脆弱，你们就是体现他们脆弱的最佳证明。

bjran8888 • 5 days ago

In the early 1990s, the West imposed an arms embargo on China.

If you look at the lineage of Chinese weapons, you'll see that most Chinese weapons started out as reverse Soviet weapons, and then gradually added their own designs to complete the process.

上世纪90年代初，西方对中国实施武器禁运。

如果你看看中国武器的谱系，你会发现中国大多数早期武器都是仿苏式武器，然后逐渐加入自己的设计，完成了这个过渡。