1 November 2020, NIICE Commentary 6415
Kavya Chaurasia
India’s first Prime Minister Jawaharlal Nehru wrote in his book, Discovery of India (1946) “The Pacific is likely to take the place of the Atlantic in future as the nerve centre of the world. Though not directly a Pacific state, India will inevitably exercise an important influence there.” This vision seems enliven 74 years later, when world is witnessing a shift in geopolitical centre of gravity in this region. As the world can sense the heat of a new cold war between China and the US, that unlike the previous cold war, is neither stationed in Europe nor on territorial sphere, but has shifted to the Indo-Pacific while India is seen to play the role of ‘Net Security Provider’ holding a centre stage providing her maximum opportunity more than ever to manoeuvre the destiny of this emerging plot.
In International Relations, it was Karl Haushofer who first used the term ‘Indo-Pacific’ in his work Indopazifischen Raum in 1920s, but since then, definition and meaning of region has been in constant flux, having different meaning for different players.
India’s Stance
Considering Ancient Vedanta philosophy: ‘Essential Oneness of All’, at nexus Indian Prime Minister at Shangri-La dialogue 2018 defined India’s version of Indo-Pacific as, ‘A Free and Open Indo-Pacific’ that is open, stable, and secure, based on consent of all and not power of few. A rule based open sea of communications in the ocean that is in interest of all, enabling peaceful, coordinated development opportunities for states sharing the region.
Strengthening the string of multilateralism possibilities in Indian Ocean region, India laid down SAGAR (Security and Growth for All in the Region) policy. The country’s clear emphasis on dialogue as the last resort to solve all crisis emerging with any state is the policy guided by 5s (Samman (respect), Samvad (dialogue), Sanyog (cooperation), Shanti (peace) and Samridhi (prosperity).
Fourfold Synergy
India maintains an all-inclusive version of Indo-Pacific extending from Horn of Africa to America, maintaining an altogether different stance. Having such a broad outlook of the indo-Pacific, India is aiming synergy in the region on four fronts.
First, extensive defence and economic engagement with the US Indo-Pacific Strategy Report, released by US Department of Defence mentioned India as ‘major defence partner’ and incline of White House towards warming of ties with India, which is seen as a counterbalance against rising China. Initiatives like 2+2 Ministerial Dialogue, JAI trilateral grouping (Japan, US, India), QUAD (Quadrilateral Security Dialogue) and QUAD 2.O, aimed to maintain peace in the Indo-Pacific region that led to naval exercises among them i.e. Malabar exercises starting in 1992 which was joined by Japan in 2015. There has been planning to add Australia also to the group. This has made world see it as ‘Asian NATO’. Rising military and economic relations with west is seen as the sign of counter balancing China and a significant part of India’s fourfold synergy.
Second, is engagement with ‘Non-West’ fronts. It is worth mentioning as ‘Non-West front’ and not ‘Anti-West front’, as it does not involve US and is not against it. Trilateral strategic groupings like RIC (Russia, India, China) which brings three largest Eurasian countries together. Recent RIC virtual meet 2020 has been of great strategic importance as it was the first platform of India China Meeting after violent border escalation between the two. Another such collaboration is ‘BRICS’ (Brazil, Russia, India, China, South Africa) basically an economic affiliation which has huge future potential to become political and strategic endeavour. This strengthens ‘South-South’ cooperation and opens up a platform of tie with African nations, who form part of India’s extended version of Indo-Pacific. Similarly, ‘SCO’ (Shanghai Cooperation Organisation), a deepening economic, political and security ties that comprises of Kazakhstan, China, Kyrgyzstan, Russia, Tajikistan, Uzbekistan, India and Pakistan is vital group for India as it brings the strategic opening to Central Asian region.
Third, is the Look East Policy. East Asian countries hold strategic territorial hold throughout South China Sea that is the gateway of Indian and the Pacific Ocean. India’s participation in 13th East Asia Summit 2018, envisaging Manila Plan of Action on including Maritime as a new area of cooperation and Shangri-la Dialogue speech both aligns India’s aim at fostering deep links with East Asian countries. Apart from looking East, the country also focuses on integrating South Asia, not emerging as their leader but to take all states together creating a common South Asian voice on all global platforms.
Fourth, Port Developments, under Sagarmala project of Government of India to promote port development on 7500 km coastline of country that will give secured southern boundary to the country that opens in Indian Ocean. Among other initiatives is the prolonged investment of India in Changi Naval Base (Singapore), Chabahar Port (Iran), Assumption Islands (Seychelles), Sabang Port (Indonesia), Duqm Port (Oman). Among them Changi Naval Base at Singapore can also be used for Defence purposes if needed, that provides India a strategic position at busiest Choke Points carrying huge trade movements i.e. Strait of Malacca and Lombok Strait. Moreover, Chabahar, Duqm and Seychelles Port provide same significance at Choke Points like Strait of Hormuz and Strait of Mandeb. This forms an Indian string in Indo-Pacific region that has potential to counter China’s ‘String of Pearls’.
Aiming Equipoise
Equipoise means a state of equilibrium, something that India is experimenting, differing from several who choose to join camps. This equipoise shouldn’t be confused with Non-Alignment or Isolationism. India undoubtedly has come closer to west but has not abandoned initiatives like RIC, SCO, BRICS, East Asia Summit etc. that provide a non-west alternative and portrays an image of not allied to west camp holding balanced and strategic position in Indo-Pacific.
India’s foreign policy maintains ‘Strategic Autonomy’ i.e. non-involvement in any conflict which is on political ground anywhere in the world and hold an independent outlook on core strategic fronts adopting measures that best suits the National Interest. Thus, not choosing alignments rather choosing best strategic move.
India’s External affairs Minister Jaishankar’s recent contention further clears India’s stand. He said, “non-alignment as a concept belonged to a bygone era and that multipolarity necessitated that India would have to take a definite stand and even take ‘risks’ on issues such as connectivity, maritime security, terrorism, and climate change”. However, he made it clear that India does not reject non-alignment in its entirety and would not compromise on independence. “India has never been part of an alliance system, nor will it ever be.” With no calibrated strategy on the Indo-Pacific, aiming equipoise remains an experiment.
