US Secretary of Defence Chuck Hagel arrives to attend a Observer Research Foundation conference in New Delhi on August 9, 2014.
US Secretary of Defence Chuck Hagel has proposed an alliance between India, Japan and the United States to counter China.
"As India looks east, and the US rebalances (refocusing from Gulf to Asia Pacific), collaboration in Asia Pacific region is ready for taking," Secretary Hagel told a gathering at the Observer Research Foundation.
Indicating that US recognizes India's view that it cannot partner with US at the cost of China, Secretary Hagel said, "Partnering with China is and should remain a priority for both India and USA without impending their own relationship."
Secretary Hagel remarked that the US looks at India as a crucial player and that New Delhi and Washington should work together "without the trappings of rivalries."
"As our interests align, so should our armed forces," Secretary Hagel said and added that US has not offered co-production and co-development of military technology to any other country so far.
It was in 2010-11, the US had changed its focus from the Gulf to the Asia-Pacific region. Among other things, it entails relocating about 60 per cent of all US assets to Asia by 2020.
Of late, India has ramped up its ties with Japan ever since China began reasserting itself in the Indian Ocean region.
In 2006, a "global and strategic partnership" between the two countries was launched when former prime minister Dr Manmohan Singh visited Tokyo and met the Japanese Premier Shinzo Abe.
Since then, despite hurdles like issues of nuclear proliferation, the relationship has flowered and has acquired an institutionalised character. In 2009, the two nations signed a landmark agreement on security co-operation which has promoted regular dialogue between key defence and security officials of both sides.
India and Japan also signed a Comprehensive Economic Partnership Agreement (CEPA) in February, 2011 which focused on fostering greater economic cooperation and closeness. The proposal of triangular partnership - between India, US and Japan - to shape and dominate the environment in Asia Pacific indicates that US is keen on a loose, if not a formal, grouping.