ASEAN in Modi's Foreign Policy

ASEAN in Modi’s Foreign Policy: Present and Future in the ‘Look East Policy’ Ms. Bipasha Rosy Lakra Popular history on India’s foreign policy exaggerates socio-politico and cultural ties of East Asian nations to that of India. It is true to a great extent where religion spread throughout South and East Asia along the trading routes. Indonesia, Malaysia and Thailand embraced Hinduism, while Buddhism flourished in Japan, Vietnam, Korea and China and other countries such as Burma, Cambodia and Thailand too. However the ‘exaggeration’ was in mere terms because the era of Cold War, accompanied by intense balance of payment problem to that of adverse negative conclusions of economic liberalizations held India tight in its grip. Collapse of erstwhile USSR forged ahead India to revise its strategy to ‘Look East’ under the aegis of the then Prime Minister Narasimha Rao, the man who played a pivotal role in the India’s economic liberalization. The Secretary (East) at a round table conference as a curtain raiser event held in New Delhi to the 13th ASEAN-India Summit and the 10th East Asia Summit which was held in Kuala Lumpur on 21st-22nd November, 2015 said: The Association of Southeast Asian Nations (ASEAN) has been the most successful regional organization in Asia and the Pacific. As the geographically adjacent, western neighbour of ASEAN, India’s relations with ASEAN have grown from strength to strength. India’s partnership with ASEAN has successfully moved from a Sectoral Dialogue Partnership in 1992 to a Summit Partnership in 2002 and to a Strategic Partnership in 2012.1 However it is to be highlighted that ASEAN compared to SAARC has spelt enormous profits in terms of regional cooperation and economic development. In an era of globalization it becomes necessary that the Indian foreign policy maintains ‘growth model’2. 126 ASEAN (Association for Southeast Asian Nations) established in the year 1967, remained aloof to India then, as those were the times when India was already reeling under the loss of Jawaharlal Nehru, one of the foremost architects of India’s foreign policy and in addition to this, domestic unrests in terms of social movements upset the chores of Indian polity. However, India took a long stride with Prime Minister Narasimha Rao at its helm of foreign affairs with ‘Look East Policy’ as its wheel. Moreover India’s image as a ‘soft power’ in the South Asian and East Asian region has helped her to sail through adversities. This elevates India above certain criticisms such as being a ‘hard power’ or being ‘coercive’ in nature. The other advantage it has procured is that with China and its growing clout in the region. Though China viewed as a Communist one and aggressive too has its own repercussions. It still is constantly vying to overtake all such hurdles on its way and interestingly has always been omnipresent either positively or negatively in physical as well as virtual manner. The paper analyses Indian foreign policy and its perspectives in contemporary times emphasizing its ‘Look East Policy’ Revisiting the germination of ASEAN in ‘Look East Policy’ -1992-2012 The beginning of 1990’s in India was flanked by reforms, development of the economy in a dynamic way as well as certain events that changed the course of history paving in renewed ideas for the nation state. India was experiencing what is famously known as ‘liberalization, privatization and globalization’ equally. Foreign policy during this era took a front seat with Narasimha Rao as the Prime Minister. Policy of ‘Look East’ gained ground in the foreign affairs, wherein new expanded definition of ‘East’ was at its core. The introduction of ‘Look East Policy’ in 1992 was defined by Narasimha Rao at a lecture in Singapore in September 1994.3 ASEAN-India Joint Sectoral World Focus March 2016 Cooperation Committee meeting was held in Bali, January 6-8 in 1994, where a statement was addressed by the then Foreign Secretary, J.N Dixit which highlighted the potentialities, strengths as well as future prospective for India and ASEAN. To us it appears natural that this process of intensifying economic cooperation between ASEAN and India should come at a time when the ASEAN itself has been moving towards intensified cooperation and greater consolidation as a regional entity. While our formal relationship with ASEAN as a regional grouping is only beginning, India’s long standing, multi-faceted and substantial relationship with individual ASEAN countries provides a sound basis for a quantum leap in Indo-ASEAN relations. Another convergence which augurs well for our dialogue is the economic and trade liberalization policies that India has been vigorously pursuing. In this, we are emulating the trade, technology and investment driven growth models so successfully demonstrated by the ASEAN countries. We are heartened that India is now emerging as an economic powerhouse, with the world’s fifth largest economy.4 The lecture highlighted certain tenets such as economic liberalization wherein he emphasizes that the Indian investors and their investments had significantly liberalized. This included automatically taking investment decisions for investment capital in equity. This in turn would encourage setting up of joint ventures. Growth and development in the technology sector to undertake large projects and price on competitive basis offers an opportunity which was highlighted. During the ASEAN-India Sectoral dialogue relations in New Delhi, 1993 there was a positive attempt by focusing on certain specific areas of cooperation in trade, investment and field of tourism as well as technology. The year 1996 observed India gaining Full Dialogue Partnership. Annual Summits have been held with ASEAN since 2002. Twentieth anniversary of dialogue-level partnership and tenth anniversary of Summit level partnership with a Commemorative Summit was held in New Delhi whose theme was ‘ASEAN-India Partnership for Peace and Shared Prosperity’ in 2012. This Summit witnessed leaders from all the ten ASEAN countries endorsed elevating the meeting as ‘Strategic Partnership’. The adoption of ‘ASEAN-India Vision Statement’ that charted the future prospects of ASEAN-India cooperation. The functional and developmental cooperation between India and ASEAN besides economic bond are varied and diverse in nature ranging from trade, science and technology, environment, human resource development, space science, new and renewable energy, information and communication technology, telecommunications, transport, tourism and culture to health and pharmaceuticals. India acceded to the Treaty of Amity and Cooperation (TAC) and signed the counter-terrorism declaration with ASEAN in the year 2003 which makes it important as a study as the growing clout of religious fundamentalism seems to gain ground. Foreign Trade Agreement (FTA) in goods and services was signed between India-ASEAN which established a Free Trade Area in 2009. The Free Trade Agreement became effective in the year 2010. Therefore two decades of partnership had yielded positive benefits despite lapses in the initial period of ASEAN’s establishment. A leap towards Modi’s ‘Look East Policy’Contemporary Perspectives The era post 2012 is a continuation of earlier initiatives by India towards ASEAN. Cooperation and development has been intensified such as in cultural, educational and academic fields through people-topeople contacts, Youth Exchange Programmes, Media Exchange Programmes, Special Training Courses for ASEAN diplomats and Eminent Persons Lecture Series. Moreover India has established various centres in Cambodia Lao PDR, Myanmar and Vietnam (CLMV countries) such as English Language Training (CELT) and Entrepreneurship Development Centres (EDC). Other such events that marked a spurt in partnership programmes include: ASEAN-India Eminent Persons Group (AIEPG) which was established as the Plan of Action(POA) 2010-15 that charted a vision statement for a long term strategic partnership addressing regional and global issues among India and ASEAN. Dialogues programme such as Delhi Dialogue which is a 1.5 event held annually in Delhi which brings together opinion maker, diplomats, academia, leaders and thinktanks of Indian and ASEAN alike to discuss, intensify, ASEAN in Modi’s Foreign Policy: Present and Future in the ‘Look East Policy’ 127 develop political, strategic, economic and civil society interactions. Delhi Dialogue V under the theme IndiaASEAN: Vision for Partnership and Prosperity’ was held in New Delhi on February 19-20, 2013. It was inaugurated by Shri. Salman Khurshid, External Affairs Minister of India. H.E. Mr. Le Luong Minh, Hon’ble Secretary General of ASEAN, H.E Senator A. Kohilan Pillai, Deputy Foreign Minister of Malaysia, H.E. U. Zin Yaw, Deputy Foreign Minister of Myanmar, H.E. Mr. Pham Quang Vinh, Deputy Foreign Minister of Vietnam and senior representatives from all other ASEAN member states participated in it.5 Shipping expedition of the sail training ship INS Sudarshini to ASEAN countries was flagged from Kochi in 2012 and ASEAN-India Car Rally from Indonesia through eight countries, in which several “Marker” events were organized such as business seminars, cultural events and tourism shows along the route of the Car Rally. The idea behind these initiatives is to highlight how connectivity could impact business and people-to-people linkages. India has involved itself in other policy initiatives such as BIMSTEC (Bay of Bengal Initiative for MultiSectoral Technical and Economic Cooperation), MGC (Mekong-Ganga Cooperation) and also in other forums- Asia-Europe Meeting , East Asia Summit(EAS), ASEAN Regional Forum, ASEAN Defence Ministers Meeting and Expanded ASEAN Maritime Forum. Modi’s regime has intensively catered to focus on various sectors and one such is security. The main forum for the ASEAN security dialogue is the ASEAN Regional Forum. Maritime issues have been of utmost importance. Expanded ASEAN Maritime Forum (EAMF) provides a platform for track 1.5 diplomacy focusing on cross cutting maritime problems that is common to the region. India participated in one such EAMF held in Indonesia in 2015. In terms of trade, ASEAN-India Agreements for Trade in Services and Investments signed in 2014 which made the Free Trade Agreement complete. ASEAN-India connectivity is vital strategically both ways. India became the Third Dialogue partner to ASEAN for an ASEAN-India Connectivity 128 Coordinating Committee. India has considerably made inroads in implementing the India-Myanmar-Thailand Trilateral Highway and the Kaladen Multimodal Project and issues relating to air connectivity and maritime between ASEAN-India and transforming the connectivity forums as economic corridors were under discussion. The expansion of the Trilateral highway to Cambodia, Lao PDR and Vietnam has also been included.6 It is worthwhile to note that to strengthen ASEAN related processes; India has set up a separate mission to ASEAN and EAS in Jakarta in 2015 which spells its commitment. Conclusion: Analyzing the Contours of ‘Look East Policy’ ‘ASEAN for India’ and ‘India for ASEAN’ should act in ‘the ASEAN way’, which implies the tenets of ASEAN- deliberation, consensus, amity, cooperation and minimal institutionalization. The importance of ASEAN for India lies in India’s foreign policy initiative of ‘Look East’. Strategically ASEAN as a major platform fulfills this policy of ‘Look East’ for India. ASEAN countries are at major intersection of both land and sea. Much of the architecture is being shaped by China and India with the western influence of USA. Maritime boundary disputes between China and ASEAN countries has made the position of India vital as a medium or element to counter balance the growing undisputed power of China concerning politics, economics and security. Therefore India has been vying to become a major regional player through forums such as ASEAN with its soft diplomatic strategy. In terms of energy and security India and ASEAN countries can initiate cooperation. Myanmar, Vietnam and Malaysia can contribute to India’s energy security. The South China Sea dispute has a major of contention for the Asia Pacific region especially with countries- China, Brunei, Phillipines, Taiwan, Vietnam and Malaysia for its mineral resources and crude oil and in addition to this it also serves as a major sea route for the Asia Pacific region. Visible anti-China stand has been taken by the countries staking claim on it as China has gone a step further by creating a Sansha city, an administrative body set up in disputed Paracels, a chain World Focus March 2016 of islands, overseeing the Chinese territory from the South China Sea. Recent developments to negotiate amongst the ASEAN countries have left the group largely divided or into opinioned blocs. On 11th February 2016, USA and India have concluded to conduct Joint Naval Patrols that could also include South China Sea. USA wants its regional allies and other Asian nations to take a unified stance against China for its occupation in the South China Sea where it is reported that Beijing has been constructing a seven man-made islands in the Spratly archipelago.7 Coming in terms of trade, India’s link with ASEAN is important, viewing India’s policy of increasing trade with East Asian countries such as Korea, Japan and China, a paradigm shift from the West. India-ASEAN relations are slated to develop further because of common historical paradigms, favorable demographic profile which augments for growing services and goods. Nonetheless, it also proves congenial for movement of ideas, capital and creativity. Indian states such as West Bengal, Tamil Nadu, Odisha are revising their maritime links with ASEAN countries to boost their own trade and economy. Likewise Northeast India is building suitable infrastructure to commercially connect with Southeast Asia. In the wake of growing clout of China as considerable power in East Asia, India automatically comes into limelight. India, it is believed, can counter the Chinese aggression by the virtue of being considered a ‘soft power’. Moreover virtual assurance by USA adds to its strength and vigour. The present diplomatic policy of the government in relation to its neighbours showcases strong evidence of traits related to the concept of “soft power”. It is rightly emphasized by Joseph.S.Nye Jr that the ability of a nation to influence other nations and their thought process through its culture, society, political system and economic prowess which is not coercive but a subtle influence. The current government has been deploying essential elements of statecraft such as power and realism in a Machiavellian way. The tradition employs ‘power’ in a certain manner to ensure its own ‘security’. India in this stance has truly exhibited its goodwill amongst its neighbours of South Asia and East Asia. Indian foreign policy analyst C.Raja Mohan observes that India is a strong franchisee of ‘soft power’ diplomacy.8 This has been enhanced by Prime Minister Narendra Modi in recent times by disseminating Indian culture worldwide, for instance the declaration that June 21st should be observed as ‘International Day of Yoga’ by the United Nations General Assembly. His regime has never allowed the democratic ideals come across foreign policy deals whether with authoritarian China or Communist Vietnam. Therefore the hardening of the soft power has seen the order of the day in Modi’s regime. This has forged a positive approach and awareness that shared political values can be used to elevate cultural and economic ties and alleviate narrow political interests. Footnotes 1 http://mea.gov.in/aseanindia/Speeches-Statements. This model has been brought into limelight by Indian Prime Minister, Narendra Modi. The model is about ideologically-neutral good governance. It is known for its development oriented governance that involves citizens in its journey of development. 3 Prime Minister Narasimha Rao’s lecture at the Institute of South East Asian Studies (ISAS), National University of Singapore, 1994. (www.isas.nus.edu.sg) 4 Statement of the leader of the Indian Delegation, Foreign Secretary, Shri J. N. Dixit, at the ASEAN-India Joint Sectoral Cooperation Committee Meeting in Bali, 6-8 January, 1994. (http://mealib.nic.in) 5 India-ASEAN Relations ( http://www.mea.gov.in/Portal/ForeignRelation/ India-ASEAN_Relations.pdf) 6 ASEAN-India Relations-20 Years (http://mea.gov.in/aseanindia/20-years.htm) 7 Q&A:South China Sea Dispute. (http://www.bbc.com/news/world-asia-pacific) 8 India’s Soft Power Potential (http://thediplomat.com) 2 The Modi doctrine for the Indo-Pacific Region Indo-Pacific security has been a prime concern in the ‘Act East’ policy for India. Under the gambit, ‘Modi Doctrine’ has sought to influence this region for a greater maritime power. Security cooperation with United States, Australia and Japan as well as furthering existing ties with ASEAN and strengthening political ties with nations in the Pacific and Indian Ocean spells the tenets of this doctrine. Increasing security ties between India and Japan is an intimation of ‘Look East’ to ‘Act East’ policy. The two countries have committed to jointly produce four engine amphibious aircraft, the ShinMaywa US-2. It is important for Japan as this marks the first important sale of military hardware overseas since the end of Second World War. On the other hand for the Indian side, the joint production would diversify and amplify the Indian defense industry. It would cater to eighteen short takeoff and landing planes guard and patrol the 7,500 kilometers coastline as well as deliver troops to the Andaman Islands in Bay of Bengal and Nicobar islands in the Indian Ocean and Lakshwadeep Islands off the southwest coast. ASEAN in Modi’s Foreign Policy: Present and Future in the ‘Look East Policy’ 129