Washington, Jan 13 (NationPress) Prominent American legislators have recognized China as the leading strategic foe of the United States and positioned India as a vital democratic counterbalance essential for sustaining global equilibrium and stability in the Indo-Pacific region.

Speaking at a CSIS forum, Representative Ami Bera stated there is no uncertainty in Washington’s view of Beijing. “We know clearly who our adversary is in Beijing,” he remarked.

Bera noted that the rivalry with China is influencing U.S. foreign policy across security, technology, and economics. “That’s going to be the leading competition in the world,” he stated, emphasizing that new global frameworks would revolve around “shared values, democracy, free markets, and entrepreneurship.”

Representative Rich McCormick cautioned that mismanaging relations with India could lead to dire repercussions amid China’s ascendance. “If they start aligning with Russia and China, that will upset everything for us,” he warned.

McCormick added that the partnership between India and the United States could significantly influence the forthcoming century. “If we unite… we could genuinely usher in a new era of peace that could last 100 years if we approach this correctly,” he asserted.

Both legislators contrasted China’s governance model with that of India. Bera characterized China as following an alternate path. “China is a very different country with a different model,” he said, further commenting, “We don’t have to speculate about what Xi Jinping intends to do. He communicates it clearly.”

McCormick noted that China’s economic growth has been marked by unfair practices. “They’ve been cheating their way to the top through the World Trade Organization,” he said, cautioning against permitting Beijing to dictate global standards.

Technology emerged as a pivotal theme in this competition. McCormick warned against restricting India’s access to advanced U.S. technology. “If we start limiting access to our products, that’s detrimental for us as a nation,” he claimed, arguing that exclusion would redirect partners towards Chinese alternatives.

Bera stressed the significance of the Quad alliance involving the United States, India, Japan, and Australia. “The reason I know the Quad’s so vital is that Beijing despises it,” he pointed out.

The lawmakers also emphasized India’s expanding role in regional security. Bera declared India essential for maintaining “maritime security and freedom of navigation” in the Indian Ocean, cautioning against repeating past mistakes in the Indo-Pacific.

McCormick stated that India’s democratic diversity provides it an advantage over China’s centralized governance. “The United States and India must align similarly in how we engage with our populations,” he said, contrasting this with China’s “monolithic” approach.