Sansad TV Perspective: ASEAN-India Summit

In the series Sansad TV Perspective, we bring you an analysis of the discussion featured on the insightful programme ‘Perspective’ on Sansad TV, on various important topics affecting India and also the world. This analysis will help you immensely for the IAS exam, especially the mains exam, where a well-rounded understanding of topics is a prerequisite for writing answers that fetch good marks.

In this article, we feature the discussion on the topic: ASEAN-India Summit.

Anchor: Vishal Dahiya

Guests:

1. Anil Wadhwa, Former Ambassador
2. Subhomoy Bhattacharjee, Consulting Editor, Business Standard    
3. Dr. Sreeram Chaulia, Foreign Affairs Expert
4. Teena Jha, Correspondent, Sansad TV

Context: Nineteenth ASEAN-India summit.

Highlights of the discussion:

• Introduction
• ASEAN-India relationship
• Indo-Pacific aspect of the ASEAN-India relationship
• Challenges in relations
• Way Ahead

Introduction:

• Member states of ASEAN and India have decided to establish meaningful, substantive, and mutually beneficial Comprehensive Strategic Partnerships. 
• Both sides also reaffirmed the importance of maintaining ASEAN centrality in the evolving regional architecture in the Indo-Pacific. This was decided at the 19th ASEAN-India summit held in Cambodia, where the Indian delegation was led by Vice President Jagdeep Dhankar. 
• Both sides also decided to enhance cooperation on cyber security, counter-terrorism, and digital economy and expedite the review of the ASEAN-India Trade in Goods Agreement. 
• ASEAN-India dialogue relations started with the establishment of a sectoral partnership in 1992 which graduated to a full dialogue partnership in December 1995, a Summit level Partnership in 2002, and a Strategic Partnership in 2012. 
• ASEAN is central to India’s Act East Policy and its vision for the wider Indo-Pacific.
• The Vice President of India while addressing the summit highlighted that ASEAN is a very critical player for India in the regional, global and multilateral order in the context of the current geopolitical environment.

ASEAN-India Relationship:

• India and ASEAN are celebrating 30 years of their multi-faceted and multi-dimensional relationship ranging from trade, technology, and connectivity to issues like climate change.
• The journey has been an incremental journey beginning with Central Dialogue Partner in 1992, the Dialogue partner in 1995, the Summit-level Dialogue Partner in 2002, the Strategic partner in 2016 to the current Comprehensive Strategic partnership. 
• The bilateral trade stands at approximately $98 Billion (2021). ASEAN has invested nearly $117 Billion in India and India’s investments in ASEAN countries account for about $55 Billion. 
• The relations grew steadily in various fields. However, progress was not on the desired lines in terms of speed particularly after India transformed its Look East Policy to Act East policy in 2014.
• Moreover, the unfortunate development in Myanmar derailed and delayed the connectivity agenda. It was further hampered by the COVID-19 pandemic.
• However, as pointed out by Indian Vice President this needs to be deepened further in existing areas and enhance relationships in new and other potential areas.
• The 19th summit gave importance to cyber security. In earlier summits importance was given to maritime security.
• ASEAN’s centrality in India-ASEAN relations:
  • ASEAN centrality refers to regional architecture placing ASEAN and ASEAN’s interests and will at the centre of all negotiations because of its strength in numbers (10 countries) that come together to form a common market.
  • ASEAN is the building block in the region, if it is divided or disintegrated then it can become weak and other regional powers like China can manipulate it to assert its hegemony.
  • In all the aspects like counter-terrorism, cyber security, digital economy, etc. both India and ASEAN have reiterated the ASEAN’s centrality.
  • India’s assertion of ASEAN centrality implies that it has a positive vision of equal treatment. India believes in equality for all irrespective of size and power (as highlighted in the Shangri-La Dialogue).
• The maritime security aspect between India and ASEAN has been strengthened through information sharing and coastal radars.

Indo-Pacific aspect of India-ASEAN relations:

• Indo-Pacific looms large in the security calculus of both India and ASEAN.
• It should be noted that ASEAN is not averse to using the term Indo-pacific in contrast to China which usually prefers Asia-Pacific. This implies that ASEAN countries support India’s greater role in the region through defence diplomacy and multilateral naval/maritime exercises.
• ASEAN is central to India’s wider Indo-pacific vision and Act-East Policy. However, ASEAN has a different outlook on Indo-pacific as it is deeply enmeshed with the Chinese economy.
• India has clearly favoured the principle of inclusivity in the region. India wants to make sure that the Indian Ocean including the South-China sea is free, open, and inclusive and that the sea lines of communication are open for all.
• ASEAN though has some synergy with India’s vision, has extra elements as at least 5 countries are involved with China in a dispute. However, ASEAN is working on a code of conduct negotiation with China.

Challenges in India-ASEAN relations:

• The majority of India’s investment in ASEAN is with one single country that is Singapore. India is looking forward to diversifying its trade and investments.    
• The Agreement on Goods, which was signed in 2010 met with a lot of friction and requires a review. 
• There are several instances of ASEAN countries being used by countries like China and undermining the purpose for which it was formulated. 
• It is perceived by many that ASEAN can be easily exploited by the great powers as it was dominated in the cold war period.
• Connectivity in every respect like custom procedures, documentation, currency procedure, transportation, etc. has been a herculean challenge.

Way Ahead:

• The traditional and cultural links can give a solid plank for strengthening the bilateral relationship.
• The regional integration mechanisms should also be strengthened and should not be allowed to be overridden by external influences.
• India can act as a counterbalancing power in the region for ASEAN members as it holds a similar view of democratic, inclusive, and rule-based order with an ASEAN-centric vision for the Indo-Pacific.
• India is pushing for an export target of approximately $900 Billion, and a large part of this can be contributed by ASEAN. Thus the relationship between the two sides needs to focus more on the trade component. For this like rules, customs, and document procedures should be eased further.
• The operational procedures should also be made easy as a diverse country like India and an integrated trade block of ASEAN can go a long way in economic prosperity.

Read all the previous Sansad TV Perspective articles in the link.

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