Trump, Modi enjoy anti-establishment posturing: China daily

Ahead of US secretary of state Rex Tillerson's visit to India, China's Global Times said today President Trump and PM Modi are "centre-right wing politicians"who enjoy "anti-establishment posturing".

"Trump identifies with white supremacy deep in his heart", the right-leaning newspaper said, adding, ex-White House chief strategist Stephen Bannon had described Modi's 2014 election victory as a "global revolt".

"Modi's brand of Hindu nationalism helped him become prime minister of a country about 80 per cent Hindu," the newspaper said in its op-ed page.

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The newspaper said Trump strived for Indian-American support by "wooing India".

"During the 2016 presidential election, the Republican Hindu coalition led by Shalabh Kumar offered important support for Trump, Kumar and Modi knew each other a long time and Kumar was said to provide a special communication method for Modi and Trump," it said.

"During US Secretary of Defense James Mattis' visit to India in September, the US sold 22 Sea Guardian remotely piloted vehicles to India, the first time that the US sold such advanced weapons to a non-NATO nation," the newspaper informed.

"It was really a symbolic action," it added.

The newspaper also mentioned the Malabar military exercise conducted by India, US and Japan in July, which was also mentioned by Tillerson last week during a talk with a think tank in Washington.

"Many contradictions still remain in India-US relations. Modi won't satisfy all Trump's demands in trade and market openness because of his "India First" policy," the influential Chinese daily said.

"Ahead of Trump's upcoming visit to China, Sino-US relations are going through a sensitive time. Washington needs to be more cautious about the policy signals it sends," adding, "Beijing still has high expectations for Tillerson to improve relations between the two countries."