Mr. Speaker, in the latter part of March, President Clinton is scheduled to travel to India.  His trip will mark the first visit by an American President to the world’s largest democracy since 1978.  I’d say that a visit to India by the leader of the Free World is long overdue, and I want to express my appreciation to the President for making this historic trip.

Mr. Speaker, my purpose this evening is to suggest that the President devote significant time during the trip to developing closer bilateral cooperation on defense and security issues to respond to common threats and challenges.  This is an area where the need for U.S.-India partnership is growing increasingly urgent.  For years, we’ve seen how the many of the same forces of international terrorism that threaten American interests also pose a direct threat to India’s security.

Another common threat faced by India and the United States emanates from the People’s Republic of China.  In the last week, we have seen China threatening Taiwan with military force, belying Beijing’s claims to favor peaceful reunification.  This is, unfortunately, a familiar pattern.  U.S. Naval officials in the Pacific are currently trying to defuse the situation, and the Administration is obviously concerned about the implications that Beijing’s saber-rattling will have in a variety of areas.  In this House, just a few weeks ago, we passed the Taiwan Security Enhancement Act, which I supported.

I believe it is time, Mr. Speaker, for the U.S. to stop basing so much of our Asia policy on the hope of achieving a strategic partnership with China.  Instead, I believe we should recognize the benefits of closer defense ties with India, a country which, unlike China, is a democracy and which, also in contrast to China, does not threaten its neighbors with the kinds of rhetoric and actions that Beijing has most recently demonstrated with regard to Taiwan.

Toward this end, President Clinton’s upcoming trip to India offers an opportunity to embark upon a new direction in U.S. policy in Asia.  It is an opportunity to confront the threat posed by China to regional and international security, and to make responses to this threat a higher priority.

India faces a very serious threat from China.  The two countries share a border of approximately 1,000 miles.  In the 1960’s, China initiated a border war against India and continues to occupy Indian territory.  More recently, we have seen China providing missile development and nuclear technology assistance to Pakistan, as well as other unstable regimes.  Pakistan, a country currently ruled by a military dictatorship, launched a border conflict against India last year in Kashmir and continues to threaten India in a number of ways, including by providing support and a base for terrorist movements active in Kashmir.  By aiding Pakistan, China is indirectly, but in a very real sense, threatening its neighbor India.

India, on the other hand, Mr. Speaker, does not engage in proliferation activities.  India has developed its own indigenous nuclear weapon and missile systems, but it does not share this sensitive technology with other nations, much less with unstable regimes that support international terrorism.  India does not seek to promote tensions among neighboring countries, as China has cynically done in the India-Pakistan dispute.

Given Chinese behavior, and the common threat it poses to the United States and India, I believe that President Clinton should use his trip to India as the occasion to launch a new Indo-U.S. defense partnership.  I will be calling on the President to take this much-needed action.

While this is a bold new step, I believe we can lay the groundwork now for a far-reaching alliance between the U.S. and India, including greatly expanded IMET (International Military Education and Training), joint exercises and the other military and political links that the U.S. currently maintains with our key democratic allies around the world.  Such a partnership may take some time to fully develop, but now is the time for launching it and pondering the details.

Finally, Mr. Speaker, I maintain my view that the President should not go to Pakistan on his trip to South Asia.  It’s important that the Administration continue to send the message to Islamabad that we are very concerned about Pakistan’s role in promoting instability in Kashmir, about the links between Pakistan and terrorist organizations, and the crushing of civilian government by the military junta now in power.  Currently, Pakistan is not on the President’s South Asia itinerary.  Mr. Speaker, Pakistan has done nothing to deserve a visit by the President of the United States.