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Context:
The Philippines has been the centre of attraction for the last few days with Manila hosting the Association of Southeast Asian Nations (ASEAN)-India and East Asia summit.
Introduction:
- Prime Minister Narendra Modi joined these meetings, underscoring India’s commitment to deepening ties with the ASEAN member states and the wider Indo-Pacific region as part of the ‘Act East ‘policy.
Indo-Pacific region:
- The- Indo-Pacific region is now central to global politics and economics.
- China is the most important player in the region, and as Chinese President Xi Jinping made clear in his speech that Beijing is now more confident than ever of projecting regional and global power.
- China has the good fortune of having an administration in the U.S. that lacks seriousness of purpose and is unable to communicate effectively its priorities for the region.
- This makes this period of transition very significant for communities like India that have a stake in the long-term stability of the region.
India’s relation with ASEAN:
- India’s relationship with ASEAN is a key pillar of its foreign policy.
- India also assured ASEAN of “steady support towards achieving a rule-based regional security architecture that best attests to the region’s interests and its peaceful development.
- As China’s profile grows, and the U.S. continues to be unsure of its security commitments, there is a new opportunity for India in the region.
East Asia Summit:
The East Asia Summit includes countries like India, China, Japan, South Korea, Australia, New Zealand, the U.S. and Russia apart from the 10 ASEAN member states.
Power balance:
- China has actually managed to emerge as a beacon of open and free global order. This has resulted in the regional powers taking it upon themselves to shape the regional economic and security order.
- Trans –Pacific Partnership (TPP) is being resurrected without the U.S., and the idea of an Indo-Pacific quadrilateral involving Japan, Australia, India and U.S.is back.
- New Delhi is no longer different about engaging with other regional players if it helps to further Indian interests in maintaining a stable balance of power in region.
About ASEAN:
- The ASEAN members and India together consist one of the largest economic regions with a total population of about 1.8 billion.
- ASEAN is currently India’s fourth largest trading partner, accounting for 10.2% of India’s total trade.
- India is ASEAN’s seventh largest trading partner.
- India’s service-oriented economy perfectly complements the manufacturing-based economies of ASEAN countries.
Conclusion:
Although, ASEAN is presently India’s largest trading partner there is, however, considerable scope for further growth. Formidable security challenges remain, and the two sides must think strategically to increase cooperation for a favourable balance of power that would ensure regional stability.
India needs to do a more convincing job as a beneficial strategic partner of ASEAN by boosting its domestic economic reforms agenda, enhancing connectivity within the region, and increasing its presence in regional institutions. The ASEAN nations should be clearer and more specific in their expectations from New Delhi and nudge India for a deeper, more broad-based engagement. There is much at stake for both sides.
