Tension in Indo-Pacific and Russia-Ukraine conflict are symptoms of an emerging global disorder

Source– The post is based on the article “Tension in Indo-Pacific and Russia-Ukraine conflict are symptoms of an emerging global disorder” published in Indian Express on 25th March 2023.

Syllabus: GS2- International Relations

Relevance: Changing global order and concept of Indo-Pacific

News- Japan PM has visited India and unveiled its Indo-Pacific strategy.

What are the key points of the Indo-Pacific strategy of India?

India’s Prime Minister Narendra Modi unveiled his strategy for the Indo-Pacific annual Shangri-La Dialogue in Singapore in 2018.

He spoke about freedom of navigation and open sealines. His emphasis was on inclusivity and ASEAN centrality.

What are some key points about Japan’s Indo-Pacific strategy?

Japanese Prime Minister Shinzo Abe coined the phrase Indo-Pacific, first in his 2006 address to the Indian Parliament. He said that the two oceans are bringing about a dynamic coupling as seas of freedom and prosperity.

Later in 2012, he emphasised “peace, stability, and freedom of navigation”.

Abe initially looked at the Indo-Pacific from the prism of regional peace and prosperity. But, developments in the South China Sea led to the concept acquiring a greater security dimension in the last few years.

Prime Minister Fumio Kishida chose India to unveil Japan’s Indo-Pacific strategy. The focus of the strategy would be to promote a “free and open Indo-Pacific (FOIP)”. The initiative is aimed at curbing China’s growing regional assertiveness.

Kishida insisted that FOIP’s contemporary relevance goes beyond regional security concerns. it will be the defining feature of the new global order.

He emphasised that the world is at a major inflection point today. The Indo-Pacific conflict cannot be viewed apart from the ongoing conflict in the Eurasian region. Both are symptoms of an emerging global order.

In this new order, traditional superpowers are diminishing in influence. Newly emerged powers are not behaving as per norms. It appears as though a new Cold War has begun.

What is post -War world order?

The post-war world order was primarily about sovereign inter-state relations and a relatively open global economy. It is characterised by practices of inclusive, rule-bound multilateralism. It formed the core of multilateral institutions like the UN.

Western powers have added concepts like democracy, liberalism and human rights to this discourse.

How is China challenging the postwar world order?

Its entry into the WTO in 2001 was premised on the commitment that it would adhere to the core principles of this world order.  However, as it grew in strength, especially after Xi Jinping’s rule, it started to challenge that order.

China intends to undermine the existing liberal global order and replace it with a more hegemonic and less liberal order dominated by itself.

It has disregarded sovereign national boundaries in the name of historical claims and disputed the mandates of international agencies.

What is the role of India in this regard?

India is committed to rejecting the authoritarian and coercive world order that China wants to promote. India’s commitment to freedom, human rights and peace also are above board.

It contributed significantly to upholding multilateralism through the UN and allied institutions.

For upholding India’s principle of strategic autonomy, it is important to ensure that the Global South has a significant role in shaping the 21st-century world order.