Question

Explain the essence of “Indo-Pacific” as a geopolitical framework. What are the implications for India of China's presence in the Indo-Pacific region?

Answer 1

Approach:

• Explain the “Indo-Pacific” concept
• How it acts as a centre of gravity of the world’s economic, political and strategic interests
• Implications for India of China's presence in the Indo-Pacific region

The Indo-Pacific region is an emerging geostrategic and geo-economic concept that has been gaining significance in the field of economic, defence and security studies. It is the geographical connotation of the area which covers the Eastern Coast of Africa through the Indian Ocean and Western Pacific Ocean.

It, in fact, represents the centre of gravity of the world’s economic, political and strategic interests. It is rich in natural resources, especially hydrocarbons which fuel the industrial engines of the world’s economies. The established and emerging powers are competing over these resources. In recent years, with the global economic power shift, it has swiftly emerged as a centre of international trade and investments. It indeed embodies a large market which is defined by nearly half of the world’s population. This is obvious from the economic issues currently dominating the regional politics.

The “Indo-Pacific” idea was originally conceived in 2006-07 for a more constructive geopolitical amalgamation of the Indian Ocean and the western Pacific regions, including for coping with the growing comprehensive power of China.

Implications for India of China's presence in the Indo-Pacific region:

• India’s relationship with the South-East and East Asian countries is very traditional. It has revived this traditional relationship through its LEP in the early 1990s, and recently through ‘Act East Policy’ under the Modi government.
• India’s engagements with the two vital sub-regions of Asia have been enhanced at economic, defence, politico-diplomatic and strategic levels.
• It currently conducts its bilateral relationship at the level of ‘strategic partnership’’ with Indonesia, Vietnam, Japan, South Korea, China and Australia. India’s strategic relationship with the ASEAN and the US has dramatically developed over the last one decade.
• There is also an India–Japan–Australia–US quadrilateral and India–Japan–US trilateral partnership.
• India’s strategic partners in the region not only seek to further strengthen their ties with India on a wide range of issues, including trade and investment, defence, maritime security, science and technology and disaster management, but also urge India to play a more proactive role in the Indo-Pacific and beyond.
• The US, in particular, considers India as a ‘linchpin’ in its rebalancing strategy towards the region. It is perceived that strengthening the relationship between the world’s largest democracies will help promote regional peace and stability as they share common values, interests as well as common security challenges in the twenty-first century.
• Through India’s Look East Policy (LEP) and the US’ rebalancing strategy, the two countries have further built a new synergy in their regional relationship. There is, however, concern that ‘the Indian Ocean Region could witness a major military surge by China, turning it into an arena of great power competition in Asia.’
• China has rapidly developed its relationship with Indian Ocean rim countries, which is perceived as a ‘string of pearls’ strategy, to contain emerging India. In response to the Chinese strategy, India has sought to further improve its naval and security cooperation with the South-East and East Asian countries, including Singapore, Indonesia, Malaysia, Japan, Vietnam, the Philippines, etc.
• However, India’s strategic leverage, particularly in East Asia, is not comparable with that of China’s growing clout in the Eastern Indian Ocean. China has recently gained its influence in the region by funding huge maritime infrastructure projects such as Hambantota in Sri Lanka and Gwadar in Pakistan.
• These infrastructural facilities currently may be for commercial purposes but have a considerable scope for military applications’.
• China’s ability to put India under strain in the Indian Ocean is a growing factor shaping the broader dynamic of Asian security.
• In addition, the rise of non-traditional security threats, maritime boundary claims and Great Power competition over resources has further broadened the security challenges for India.

In this rapidly changing geostrategic and geo-economic landscape of the Indo-Pacific, India’s future prosperity and overall security lies in its ability to effectively connect to the two regions, as well as maintaining peace and stability in it.