LONDON — Recently, India engaged with two major powers — China and the United States — at the highest levels. Both are vital states insofar as Indian national security interests are concerned.
What is equally important to recognize is that India is also a major power today in its own right. While much of the world has started to acknowledge that, Indian policymakers remain diffident, almost apologetic, about their nation's rising profile. When they interact with major powers, they reveal this weakness.
So when the Indian External Affairs Minister went to Beijing to mark the 60th anniversary of India's recognition of the People's Republic of China, he ended up pleading once again for Chinese support for India's permanent membership on the United Nations Security Council.