Nagivation rights figure in first Quadrilateral talks  & . Eye on China, India joins team of four

Nagivation rights figure in first Quadrilateral talks  & . Eye on China, India joins team of four

Context

• Embarking a new diplomatic initiative, India participated in the first formal official-level discussions conducted under the recently proposed regional coalition known as the ‘Quad’, the quadrilateral formation that includes Japan, India, the United States and Australia.

What was the discussion focused on?

• The discussions focused on cooperation based on their converging vision and values for promotion of peace, stability and prosperity in an increasingly inter-connected region that they share with each other and with other partners.
• A free, open, prosperous and inclusive Indo-Pacific region serves the long-term interests of all countries in the region and of the world at large is proposed.
• India’s statement sought to connect the clandestine links between North Korea and Pakistan in the development of their nuclear programmes.
• The officials also exchanged views on addressing common challenges of terrorism and proliferation linkages impacting the region as well as on enhancing connectivity.

Key issues of common interest

• key issues of common interest in the “Indo-Pacific region” were discussed, with an eye on China and the aim reaching a common ground on a “free and open” Indo-Pacific
• The boiling regional tension with China and Beijing’s assertiveness over the South China Sea issue, a statement from the Australian Foreign Ministry informed that freedom of navigation figured at the ‘Quad.’
• Also, part of the discussions were proliferation threats, “including North Korea’s nuclear and missile issues, against which maximized pressure needs to be applied, ensuring freedom of navigation and maritime security in the Indo-Pacific, and countering terrorism and other issues.
• The officials examined ways to achieve common goals and address shared challenges in the region.
• This includes upholding the rules-based order in the Indo-Pacific and respect for international law, freedom of navigation and overflight; increase connectivity; coordinate on efforts to address the challenges of countering terrorism and upholding maritime security in the Indo-Pacific.

What is ASEAN?

• The Association of Southeast Asian Nations (ASEAN) comprises of Indonesia, Singapore, Philippines, Malaysia, Brunei, Thailand, Cambodia, Lao PDR, Myanmar and Vietnam.
• India’s relationship with ASEAN is an outcome of the significant changes in the world’s political and economic scenario since the early 1990s.

Look East Policy

• ‘Look East Policy’ is India’s research for economic space.
• The Look East Policy has today turned into a dynamic and action oriented ‘Act East Policy.
• PM at the 12th ASEAN India Summit and the 9th East Asia Summit held in Nay Pyi Taw, Myanmar, in November, 2014, formally enunciated the Act East Policy.
• India’s relationship with ASEAN is a key pillar of our foreign policy and the foundation of our Act East Policy.

The Quad pivot

• The Japan-proposed, U.S.-endorsed plan, including Australia, it is necessary that India analyze the impact of this admission on all its relations.
• As a growing economy with ambitious domestic targets, India’s own needs often clashwith those of its neighbours.
• More connectivity will eventually mean more competition, whether it is for trade, water resources, or energy.

What is the significance of the meet?

• The meet comes after Japan publicly proposed the quadrilateral with India, US and Australia and then Canberra indicated its willingness to be a part of the political-security dialogue among the four democracies
• The meet aims to counter China’s aggressive maritime expansion under its Belt and Road Initiative.

Some ways to deepen and try to inculcate some of the values —

• Freedom of navigation
• Maritime security
• Humanitarian assistance
• Disaster response
• Transparency

The policy of non-interference

• The original policy of non-interference in the internal affairs of member states was noteworthy.
• China and India’s emergence as major economic powers has lent greater urgency to trade liberalization.
• It then in 2007 led to adopting a legal charter with a mandate to establish free movement of goods, services, capital and skilled personnel by ASEAN.
• With the 2015 launch of the ASEAN Economic Community, the bloc is on the threshold of realizing its ambition of emerging as an integrated single market and to engage the rest of the world with a unified voice.
• Prime Minister Narendra Modi will interact with US President Donald Trump, Japanese Prime Minister Shinzo Abe and Australian Prime Minister Malcolm Turnbull during the East Asia summit.

What is the East Asia Summit?

• The first summit was held in Kuala Lumpur, Malaysia on 14 December 2005.
• The East Asia Summit (EAS) is a forum held annually by leaders of, initially, 16 countries in the East Asian, Southeast Asian and South Asian regions.
• Membership expanded to 18 countries including the United States and Russia at the Sixth EAS in 2011.
• EAS meetings are held after annual ASEAN leaders’ meetings.