USG statement here says India has reduced it's reliance on Russian military equipment since 2011 by 53 percent. Unhappy about lack of elections in Jammu and Kashmir.
USG: Every piece of defence equipment we sell to India, is something that we will not have to field ourselves in Asia.
Asst. Sec. Hon. Donald Lu: Of the major defence systems acquired by India most have been American, European, Israeli...
Asst. Sec. Hon. Donald Lu: It's going to be very difficult for anyone to buy Russian military equipment given the sweeping banking sanctions we have imposed on Russia. Very difficult for customer countries to pay the Russians in dollars or euros.
Asst. Sec. Hon. Donald Lu: Opportunity here for other countries to sell equipment to countries like India in the coming years.
Senator Shaheen: Disappointed about India's abstention at the UN.
Donald Lu: We can already see an evolution in some of India's public positions.
Donald Lu: We have seen interesting evolution in India's position just in the past couple of days: humanitarian relief of Ukraine, statement on respect for sovereignty.
Senator Shaheen: India should be on notice that it should stand up for democratic values.
Donald Lu and Senator Shaheen now discussing Nirbhaya case.
Sen. Ted Cruz: Under Biden administration, relations with India have worsened significantly, as was manifested by India's abstentions at the UN.
Donald Lu: We continue to work to narrow gap between two countries. We have not failed to leverage India's relationship with Russia in our outreach to India to end the fighting.
Cruz: India's critical for countering China. Efforts institutionalized through Quad.But focus shifted to climate change and other issues away from China. Why is Biden admn shifted focus of Quad from countering communist China to things like climate change?
Donald Lu: We're continuing to talk about the Russia-China nexus. Interoperability with India, intelligence sharing, complex military sales...
Cruz: Your efforts with India are not working.
Senator Van Hollen: Express extreme disappointment at India's abstention at the UN. What efforts were undertaken by you to persuade India to vote with 141 other countries in the UNGA?
Donald Lu: We spared no effort to persuade India. Sec Blinken was on the phone several times.
Van Hollen: What was India's rationale?
Van Hollen: What was India's rationale?
Donald Lu: India wants to continue to leave the possibility for a diplomatic solution to this. India also has 18000 students in Ukraine whom they're concerned about.
Sen Van Hollen: All the more reason for India to vote in favour given the students. I was one of those in favour of CAATSA waiver for India. How will this impact the CAATSA waiver?
Donald Lu: It will be very difficult for any country in the world to buy weapons from Russia because of the banking sanctions. Our government will ensure we follow CAATSA law. Not able to prejudge decisions of president or secretary on CAATSA waiver.
Donald Lu: We tried very hard to convince Pakistan and Sri Lanka to persuade them to vote in favour at the UN.
Donald Lu: No, we did not call the Pakistan foreign minister on this issue. PM Khan visited Russia so we're trying to figure out how to....
Senator Hagerty: What's the latest with India's engagements on economic ties with Taiwan?
Donald Lu: India has signaled a desire to be a powerhouse in semiconductors.
Sen. Hagerty: India may not want to be military involved in deterring z China from making an adverse move towards Taiwan, but what else can it do?
Donald Lu: Malabar exercise, now that Japan and Australia have joined 'must have the Chinese going crazy'.
They're talking about climate change, now.
Donald Lu: A solar farm being built close to Chennai that will be the biggest solar farm we've ever seen.
Senator Murphy: Report that PM Modi used NSO spyware to target his political rivals including Rahul Gandhi. USG has put NSO in the entities list that are against our national security. What discussion has happened with India on this?
Donald Lu: Happened before my time. I'll get back to you.
Donald Lu: I can talk to you about digital economy though
Senator Murphy: Health of electoral democracy in India?
Donald Lu: India is politics as it was meant to be. It's a bloodsport. One of the great things is that electoral system in India is very strong.
Donald Lu: I think we'll see the results in March later this month. PM Modi and his party appear to me as outside observer to retain a lot of support in the country.
Senator Murphy: Are there things being done that are outside democratic norms?
Donald Lu: Haven't seen that. Doesn't mean that it doesn't happen. Maybe they hide it better. But I haven't seen that.
Senator Young: I'm trying to understand India's seemingly weak reaction on Ukraine -- institutional stasis, ideological resistance or factors of self interest that we haven't accounted for? Seems to go against their self interest. T
This country that depends on Russia for weapons won't be able to get weapons from Russia. Explain?
Donald Lu: Yes, seems more expected had it happened decades ago. I don't think ideological. I think there are some self-interests that are the reason for India like legacy Russia mil kit and Indian students in Ukraine.
Donald Lu: We have seen India make the right phone calls for a diplomatic solution to Ukraine but it hasn't worked yet.
Senator Young: On Russian military supplies and Indian students, it seems like U.S. could work with India on these issues. We could mitigate any risk they might be feeling. Less delicately, I think they want to pick the winning side.
I think we need to demonstrate our unity to make sure Putin goes to hell (or something like that).
Senator Murphy: On Kashmir, elections? Continues to be one of the most heavily militarized places in the world.
Donald Lu: Traveled many times to Kashmir myself, including during Kargil war. Some promises kept, some remain to be carried out.
Donald Lu: 4G restored, among other things. Cross border insurgency has really gone down.
Donald Lu: Pakistan has sealed border in a way we haven't seen before.
Donald Lu: We have seen detention of journalists in Kashmir. We look forward to India fulfilling its democratic commitments.
Senator Young: Question on what's Quad up to
Donald Lu: We're sharing critical security information and logistics cooperation. Whats important is how will Quad grow? How will we rope in Taiwan and Singapore? Through working groups.
Donald Lu: We're sharing critical security information and logistics cooperation. Whats important is how will Quad grow? How will we rope in Taiwan and Singapore? Through working groups.
Almost 20 different working groups with new partners. Maybe one day there might be new members of the group.
Donald Lu: India is asserting leadership in Indian ocean and high seas. It wants more technology to do the job better to track Chinese submarines. India wants to do so.
Donald Lu: New transit routes for drug smuggling in Indian Ocean region and we're coordinating with Indian partners in high seas.
Senator Murphy: I guess if the Big 10 (accounting firms?) can have 16 (?) members, then the Quad can have five or six (everyone chuckles). Meeting adjourned.
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