New Delhi, Jan. 10 -- The long-held and perhaps somewhat overstated belief that the United States needs and wants India as a countervailing force against China globally is showing signs of serious fraying. Viewed against the near constant jibes against Prime Minister Narendra Modi by President Donald Trump, his top officials as well as Congressional acolytes suggest that the India as counter to China calculus is perhaps coming undone.

The latest instance of this turn of events is an upcoming bipartisan bill by Republican Senator Lindsey Graham of South Carolina that expressly targets both China, India and Brazil for U.S. sanctions arising out their purchase of Russian oil. Graham has said in a statement that Trump has "greenlit the bipar...