Sansad TV Perspective: India’s Indo-Pacific Vision

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: India’s Indo-Pacific Vision

Anchor: Vishal Dahiya

Participants: 

1. Stefania Benaglia, Associate Researcher, CEPS
2. Prof. Harsh V. Pant, Head, Strategic Studies Programme, ORF
3. Maj. Gen. (Retd.) Dhruv C. Katoch, Director, India Foundation

Context: The conflict between Russia and Ukraine has jolted the entire framework of geopolitics, global economy, and international trade. In such a tense scenario, safeguarding India’s interests in the Indo-Pacific region requires a clear vision that is capable of tackling the upcoming challenges. 

Significance of the Indo-Pacific Region:

• The Indo-Pacific region is an area of essence for India in terms of:
  • Maritime strategy
  • Maritime security
  • Maritime connectivity 
  • Blue Economy
  • Disaster management 
  • Capacity building
• It is a vast maritime zone engaging the interests of many countries with India as an integral part of the region.
• India’s engagement with the Indo-Pacific goes back several centuries. 
• Tireless efforts have been put forth by India for a free and open Indo-Pacific with several initiatives such as Security and Growth for All in the Region (SAGAR) and the Indo-Pacific Oceans Initiative (IPOI).
• There were a series of bilateral, plurilateral, and multilateral platforms on which India engaged with its partners in the Indo-Pacific region. 
• The Indo-Pacific has emerged as the centre of gravity for the world economy with its growing importance in the global GDP and maritime trade.  

Read about the Strategic Importance of the Indo-Pacific Region in the linked article.

Challenges for India in the Indo-Pacific Region:

• The aggression and coercion by China in the Indo-Pacific region are emerging with prominence showcasing China’s attempt to become the most influential power in the world by combining its economic, diplomatic, military and technological might in the region. 
• Over a long span of time, India is confronted with difficult neighbours such as Pakistan and China. As a result of this, it becomes extremely important for India to secure its maritime sphere.
• China continues to impose political control over Taiwan, the South China Sea and the Senkaku islands of Japan. This becomes a major challenge for the Indo-Pacific region to flourish with maritime peace and economic prosperity. 
• Geopolitical challenges disturb the balance between old and new partnerships.

 India’s vision in the Indo-Pacific Region: The story so far

• India’s focus, with respect to the Indo-Pacific region, includes the following intentions:
  • Strengthening ties with Indo-Pacific powers like the USA, Japan, Australia, Indonesia and Vietnam
  • Improving the defence capabilities 
  • Carrying out military operations in the Indian Ocean
  • Empowering the Indian Ocean Rim Association (IORA)
• India has always advocated for a free and open Indo-Pacific that acknowledges the principles of inclusivity. 
• Efforts have been made by the US to frame multilateral defence cooperation in the region through exercises and symposia involving five US treaty allies in the region such as Japan, South Korea, Australia, Philippines and Thailand to which selected countries like India and Indonesia have been invited to participate. 
• India’s strategy recognises that China is dependent on sea lines of communication that pass through the Indian Ocean. This is an area where India enjoys the advantage of proximity. 
• India has set up its naval bases at Andaman and Nicobar Islands as well as Lakshadweep which strengthens India’s military presence in the region. 
• Besides, India has also acquired economic and military access to the Indonesian island of Sabang and North of Sumatra. 
• Diplomatic and strategic relations have been built as an attempt by India to extend its influence in the region. India has offered a concessional line of credit of $150 million to Pacific island countries for projects in solar power, in renewable energy projects and in initiatives related to climate change. 
• There has been a significant increase in the frequency of collaborations between India and its key partners in the Indo-Pacific region (Australia, US, Japan and France ).
• France and India took a collaborative approach to launch the International Solar Alliance (ISA) in order to promote renewable energy to fight climate change and reduce the cost of solar energy. 
• India has carried out naval exercises with France and UK off the Malabar coast.
• Japan, Australia and the US became founding members of the Coalition for Disaster Resilient Infrastructure in 2019 to support New Delhi’s proposal for disaster resilient infrastructure. 

The road ahead in the maritime sphere:

• India, including other countries of the Indo-Pacific region, must evolve their strategy by incorporating more engagements in the areas of mutual interests like defence, economic activities and environmental issues. This will pave the way to counter the challenges posed by China’s aggressive policies. 
• The togetherness that can be witnessed through the Indo-Pacific alliance in the form of QUAD can be looked upon as an opportunity by India to expand its strategic interests in terms of its security ambience in the Indian Ocean.
• According to the experts, the Government of India must be open to new ideas to establish a burden-sharing model under the aegis of issue-based partnerships. Such an approach would assist India to enhance the potential of limited resources and capacities to better prepare for a new security environment. 
• Looking at the speedy dynamics of the geopolitical scenario, one has to withstand the test of time to anticipate the fate of the Indo-Pacific region with India as an integral part of it.

Read more summaries of Perspective in the link.

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