India’s ACT EAST POLICY in the new world order.

Purpose of the Act East Policy

India’s Act East Policy is a successor of ‘Look East Policy’. Act east policy was unveiled by Prime Minister Narendra Modi, at the ASEAN summit held in Myanmar in 2014.

The objective of the policy is to promote economic co-operation, cultural ties, and develop strategic relationships with countries through bilateral and multilateral ties thereby providing enhanced connectivity with major partners. Act East policy is focused on improving Culture, Connectivity, Commerce, Capacity building.

Act East Policy seeks to address the inadequacies of the regional security in Asia and create a balance of power by ensuring a free, open, and inclusive Indo-Pacific.

India envisions playing a prominent role in managing China’s rise in the ASEAN region and South china sea by focusing on the Indo-Pacific region and involving Southeast Asian Countries and informal grouping called Quad.

Key actors/ Stakeholders-

● The major stakeholders for this policy are-

1. State Actors such as India, Northeastern Indian States, Thailand, Vietnam, Indonesia, Myanmar, Japan.

2. Organizations and groupings such as ASEAN, BIMSTEC, QUAD.

● India has extended its co-operation and upgraded the relationship to strategic partnerships with Japan, Australia, Vietnam, Indonesia, Malaysia, Singapore, the Association of South-East Nations, and the Republic of Korea.

● India is actively engaged in forums such as the Indian Ocean Rim Association, Bay of Bengal Initiative for Multi-sectoral Technical and Economic Co-operation, and Asia Co-operation Dialogue.

KEY DEVELOPMENTS

● Under the aegis of Act East Policy-

● India and ASEAN’ s have strengthened co-operation in the following security fields:

1. Counterterrorism, by sharing information and expanding law enforcement and resilience mechanism.

2. Cybersecurity, capacity building,

and policy coordination in the areas of ASEAN cybersecurity co-operation and in the use of Information and communication technology.

3. Maritime co-operation between India and ASEAN to prevent, rescue and manage accidents/incidents at sea in accordance with ICAO and IMO guidelines.

● India and Vietnam, are collaborating in the oil exploration in the South China Sea.

● India and Indonesia have extended co-operation in developing a port called Sabang, near the Strait of Malacca.

● Indian Government is focusing on the “Indo-Pacific” region for establishing a safe, secure, and stable maritime domain.

● India’s Act East Policy largely focuses on connectivity projects in India’s North East region.

● India’s focus is to connect India’s northeast with Thailand. India has accorded a new focus on promoting connectivity through Thailand and Myanmar with other ASEAN states.

● In line with the Act East Policy, India is reaching out to the Bay of Bengal Initiative for Multicultural Trade and Economic Sector.

● Act East Initiative is working towards economic integration, with global supply chains concentrated in South-East and East Asia.

Evaluation of Act East Policy-

Act East Policy is criticized on the ground that it is not a doctrine written in an official document, such as white paper. Nonetheless, the policy is specific to its contours. The policy is a response to the inadequacies of the Look East Policy and demonstrates India’s growing capabilities.

Act East policy aimed to broaden the co-operation beyond the economic realms. Through the policy, India is striving to stabilize the Indian ocean region, integrating South Asian and North Asian nations in the Indo-Pacific area, deepening strategic power with United States, Japan, Australia, France, Russia, and others.

By strengthening the relationship with groupings such as ASEAN and conflation with Quadrilateral Security Dialogue, India aims to preserve the balance of power by managing the influence of China. By ‘Acting East’ all the key participants are adopting a more transparent, market-driven, inclusive model. Act East signifies the securitization of India’s eastward engagement.

Possible avenues for development

1. Increase defense exports- Improving India’s defense sector and export capability to support the smaller partners would improve India’s standing amongst the member-states.

2. Facilitate overseas project implementation- India has begun connectivity projects from Chabhar in Iran to Sittwe in Myanmar, India requires to improve the communication networks along the lines to ensure seamless connectivity and delivery.

3. Enhance Regional trade- India’s share of regional trade is inadequate to the size of its economy. Entering into a more mutually beneficial trade agreement, particularly with the Southeast Asian states, should be prioritized.

4. Strengthening collaboration with ASEAN- Act East policy should aim at strengthening partnerships for economic revival through the promotion of ASEAN free trade agreement in the investment and service sector.

5. Projects like Trilateral Highway and Kaladan Multi-Mode Trade transit should be prioritized to increase economic prosperity and promoting peace and prosperity in the Northeastern region.

6. India should work to improve ties with East Asian nations, particularly with Japan, the Republic of Korea, and Australia. These nations are relevant to India’s strategic and economic integration.

7. Under the aegis of Act East Policy, technological transfer, civilian and nuclear co-operation, defense, and innovation are important sectors to be improved.

8. To ensure regional stability, India needs to be in continuous engagement with China and assume a proactive role in the functioning Of the Asian Infrastructure Investment Bank, National Development Bank to expand economic co-operation and minimize potential conflicts.

References-

Retrieved from-https://m.economictimes.com/news/politics-and-nation/northeast-states-active-stakeholders-in-act-east-policy-v-k-singh/articleshow/65092368.cms

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