Former National Security Advisor Jake Sullivan Photo: file

 

Former National Security Advisor Jake Sullivan has hit out at the current administration for imposing a "massive trade offensive" against India and said President Trump is pushing New Delhi toward China, according to Hindustan Times.

"When I go to these places now and I talk to leaders, they are talking about derisking from the US. They now see the US as the big disruptor, the country that can't be counted on," Sullivan said in The Bulwark Podcast with Tim Miller.

"China has moved ahead of the US in popularity in a whole lot of countries. And that was not the case one year ago, where countries now are basically saying the US brand is in the toilet and China is looking like a responsible player," Sullivan was quoted as saying. 

The remarks from the former top US official come days after the 50% tariff imposed by Trump on India came into effect on August 27. The tariffs on Indian exports is the highest tariff on any country, in a move that it likely to hurt growth and jobs, Hindustan Times wrote.

Qian Feng, director of the research department at the National Strategy Institute at Tsinghua University, said Sullivan's remarks were a critique of the Trump administration's "America First" and transaction-style diplomacy, believing that it undermines US' traditional alliance systems. 

"Particularly in the trade sector, the establishment believes the imposition of high tariffs directly harmed allies' interests and intensified the international community's doubts about the commitment of the US," Qian said. 

"Mentioning China in the scenario reflected the zero-sum mentality toward China held by some US politicians. They believe that US tariff policies toward India undermine America's soft power and international credibility, which helps boost China's positive image. This mentality is fueled by fear that China's development could challenge US' global status," Qian said.