LIVE NOW: Lisa Curtis, NSC Senior Director for South & Central Asia, making remarks on China's influence in that region https://twitter.com/tanvi_madan/status/1288150016759128064

NSC Sr Director Lisa Curtis: "Few countries are more familiar with China's malign influence than India"

China's "recent aggressive stance [at LAC] fits with the larger pattern of Chinese aggressiveness in other parts of the world"

NSC Sr Director Lisa Curtis mentions the #Quad as seeking to "work together to ensure the integrity of the United Nations & other int'l organizations, & to cooperate to advance effective & transparent development solutions across the world."

NSC Sr Director Lisa Curtis mentions US cooperation w/ Maldives since "the people pushed back" in 2018 vs then President Yameen. Said he "had awarded construction contracts to Chinese cos. at inflated prices & w/o transparent bidding, leaving the Maldivian ppl w/ enormous debt"

NSC Sr Director Lisa Curtis mentions #US support to & CT cooperation w/ Sri Lanka after the 2019 Easter attacks. Says "in contrast, #China tried to obstruct #SriLanka's investigation & sought to spread disinformation about US counter-terrorism assistance"

NSC Sr Director Lisa Curtis: "even as the US competes w/ China in S & C Asia, we welcome cooperation where interests align. In Afghanistan, for example, has supported calls for reduction in violence in order to create an environment conducive to inter-Afghan negotiations"

NSC Sr Director Lisa Curtis: "The US has a deep & abiding respect for the Chinese ppl, & enjoys long-standing ties to the country. We do not seek to contain China's development..."

NSC Sr Director Lisa Curtis: "America's vision for the global order excludes no nation. We look forward to working with all countries that share our respect for sovereignty, individual liberty, fair & reciprocal trade, & the rule of law"

Lisa Curtis answers Q re change: "Chinese influence & activities in S Asia hv grown significantly over the last 20 yrs...25 yrs ago, China did not take India v seriously...viewed as more inward looking, lagging on their econ growth indicators." Says that changed abt 15 yrs ago

Lisa Curtis says recently in Nepal & Sri Lanka, Chinese influence has grown. "China not only wields econ clout in these countries but is also getting more involved in their internal politics. Bangladesh has shown a lil' bit more resiliency...more balanced foreign policy"

Lisa Curtis says "thankfully...beginning to see disengagement of [Chinese & Indian] forces after a few v tense weeks...but...the pressure that China put on India on the LAC will have a long-term impact on how India views the rel...will change the dynamics btwn the two"

Lisa Curtis: " demonstrated it has the will & capabilities to stand up to China..it played the economic card by banning Chinese apps & putting a hold on investment contracts. Rest of the Indo-Pacific region is watching this v carefully...wld be encouraged by India's resolve"

Lisa Curtis: "S & C Asian nations are beginning to wake up to the downsides of the debt-trap diplomacy, & they are now seeking to avoid becoming over-exposed to China..."

Lisa Curtis: "Hope [S & C] countries will rely on int'l financial institutions for their [post-COVID] economic recovery & that this will help create incentives to be more transparent about debt owed to Chinese entities." Also mentions Blue Dot Network, Development Finance Corp

Lisa Curtis: "India has been a sceptic of the BRI from the beginning...they did not send a representative to the BRI conference in 2017 & I think their early skepticism of this effort is really bearing out. They seem fairly prescient right now"

. @BrookingsFP director @MaloneySuzanne asks abt situation in Xinjiang. Notes that while many in US, Eur hv criticized the camps, many countries in South & Cntrl Asia, & the Middle East "hv been more reticent to challenge China's practices publicly." Asks abt reasons, implications

Lisa Curtis: says C Asian countries hv economic interests so they "hedge their comments abt the repression of Muslims in Xinjiang" even though their publics have protested very vocally. Notes that large Muslim-majority Bangladesh, Pakistan hv also "failed to speak out"

Lisa Curtis: "the more we see China try to interfere in these other countries or spread their disinformation campaigns, try to manipulate the political discourse in these...countries, I think the more we'll see these S & C Asian countries begin to raise human rights concerns..."

Lisa Curtis: "The US is more willing to accept risk" in the US-China relationship