Hailing the Indo-US civilian nuclear legislation, a conservative United States newspaper has said that America's close relations with India and Japan [Images] will perhaps hedge, if not contain, a militarily rising China.

"The deal on the whole is meritorious in its own right, but it is also a building block of what is becoming an increasingly important relationship for the United States. In economic terms, the Indian juggernaut has shown great resilience, with annual growth around 8-9 percent.

"Politically, Indian officials understand the value of democratic governance, and India has already shown itself as a force for promoting democracy in its small, politically unstable neighbour Nepal," The Washington Times said in its editorial.

"Although India has not yet achieved the status of a world power, its potential reaches beyond South Asian hegemony. Because of its location, India can be a key player in terms of its strategic and economic importance to both the Middle East and Southeast Asia. As the world's largest democracy, and with a foundation of shared values with the

United States, India's leadership in both regions makes it an important ally," the paper said.

The Washington Times was one of the several major media outlets in America that prominently featured the bill signing ceremony of President Bush along with an analysis of the legislation, an event at the White House that was attended by senior administration officials, top law makers on both sides of the aisle and members of the Indian American community.

"Standing animosity between India and Pakistan makes it difficult to embrace one without alienating the other, but the Bush administration has managed the feat of strengthening relations with both simultaneously. India shares a strong interest in the stability of Afghanistan and neighboring Pakistan, a region that is still a hotbed of Islamist extremism," the paper said.

'This burgeoning influence will reach increasingly into Asia as well. Close ties with India, as well as Japan, may help at least hedge against, if not contain, a rising China. The United States faces the challenge of a changing geopolitical dynamic marked by Chinese military rivalry in the Pacific -- and China's string of pearls strategy of increased presence along the sea lanes to the Middle East and Africa. India sees China as a long-term rival, and perhaps because of that it also sees Japan as an increasingly important and increasingly natural ally,' it said reflecting its general editorial stance on the subject.

'A strong alliance between New Delhi [Images], Tokyo and Washington may be essential to maintaining a balance of power in the Pacific that is to America's liking. It is clearly in US interests to see India continue to develop as both a strategic and an economic power, and the signing of the nuclear cooperation accord is a good effort to facilitate that growth,' the paper added.