6 August 2024 : Daily Answer Writing
Q1) Enumerate the factors that make Indo-Pacific a theatre of opportunity for India. What are the impediments in reaping the geo-strategic potential of the Indo-Pacific?
(250 Words/15 Marks)
ANS
Indo-Pacific is an integrated theatre that combines the Indian Ocean and Pacific Ocean, and the land masses surrounding them. Indo-Pacific region is increasingly emerging as a theatre of opportunity for India due to the following reasons:
- The Indo-Pacific is becoming the centre point of global rebalancing, marking a shift of power towards the global south.
E.g., global geo-politics moving from the Atlantic to the Pacific.
- The vision of ASEAN centrality harmonises India’s Act East policy with ASEAN outlook on the Indo Pacific (AOIP), enabling regional integration and development.
- Developmental partnership with Pacific Island states reinforces India’s role as the leader of the global south, changing narrative in the favour of developing countries.
E.g., FIPIC SME Development Project; solar projects for government buildings; development of IT infrastructure etc.
- India’s reliance/emphasis on rules-based order checks the irresponsible behaviour of unilateral actors.
E.g., checking sabre-rattling, debt trap diplomacy (Sri Lanka) of China; respecting bodies of global governance like UNCLOS etc.
- India has played active role in Human Assistance and Disaster Relief (HADR) operations in the Indo-Pacific, cementing its role as net security provider.
E.g., Joint HADR exercise ‘Samanvay 2022’ conducted to boost interoperability in the time of crisis.
- Strategic partnership with likeminded countries helps promote cooperation and collaboration.
E.g., quadrilateral dialogue; Joint Strategic Vision of India-France Cooperation in the Indian Ocean Region etc.
Various impediments in realisation of geo-strategic potential of Indo-Pacific can be seen from:
- Unilateral actions of China in Indo-Pacific, amounting to military and economic coercion, is detrimental for evolution of an inclusionary Indo-Pacific construct. E.g., undermining territorial sovereignty of littoral states.
- The advancement of Realpolitik in Indo-Pacific, a byproduct of great power rivalry, stands in contradiction with India’s vision of an inclusive Indo-Pacific.
- Formation of AUKUS (Anglo-Saxon alliance) may also aggravate nuclear tension in the region. It could also limit the influence of quadrilateral dialogue.
- In addition to traditional rifts, contemporary global divergences may cast shadow on an inclusive Indo-Pacific construct.
E.g., Russia-Ukraine conflict.
- Incoherence and lack of strategic clarity over the issue of climate change negatively impacts the littoral/resident states.
E.g., Small Island Developing States (SIDS).
The importance of the Indo-Pacific region makes it an imperative for all stakeholders to collaborate in order to actualize a free, open, and inclusive Indo-Pacific:
- As Indo-Pacific is the epicentre of global trade, proactive measures should be taken to build supply chain resilience in the region. E.g., IPEF, blue dot network etc.
- It is incumbent on individual actors to ascribe to global rules-based order. E.g., India’s example of respecting UNCLOS decision (Bangladesh-India) should be a template for all.
- Given the region’s vulnerability to natural disasters, increased in the face of rising global temperatures, joint efforts are needed towards adaptation and mitigation.
E.g., Coalition for Disaster Resilient Infrastructure (CDRI); HADR exercises etc.
- The resource potential of the region must be utilised in a substantial manner, without damaging the rich biodiversity.
E.g., sustainable initiatives for blue economy.
- There is an imperative to converge in thoughts and actions on climate change. E.g., devising strategy for loss and damage fund (COP-27).
As India’s foreign policy interests articulated through Act East, SAGAR, and neighbourhood first are complimentary to the development of an inclusive, free, open, and stable Indo-Pacific, it is indeed a theatre of opportunity for India.
