11 October 2020, NIICE Commentary 6134
Aneetta Thomas Peedikayil
As India focuses on NORMS (New Orientation for a Reformed Multilateral System), its outlook on China has transformed commemorating a shift in its foreign policy of ‘appeasement’ to ‘multilateral confrontation’. As reckoning with the ‘Indian experiment’ to become a USD 5 trillion economy by 2024-2025 gathers steam, India, determined to gain the turf war on domestic manufacturing has also been campaigning for climate change, emerging Indo-Pacific order and reforms in inter-governmental organizations. Such policies showcase India as an emancipating power from the traditional clutches of a peaceful power.
Dragon-Elephant Tango
As neighbours harbouring a large population, geopolitical clout and economic benefits, the challenge for India lies in attaining a form of equilibrium with China to gain importance at the negotiating table. Hence, the Elephant in order to win the Dragon’s hand at tango must necessarily follow a pragmatic and enigmatic foreign policy by seeking multi-sector convergences. In the wake of re-nationalisation and de-globalisation of the world, India’s foreign policy has encountered a re-orientation from a country-based to an issued-based approach delineating its economy, technology and health as strategic pursuits in addition to its security challenges in the region. To create convergences, it becomes imperative for India to develop its economic health given the breadth of Chinese economy outlining a shift in India’s policies as follows:
De-Risking Supply Chains in Global Trade
The Aatmanirbhar Bharat promoted to ‘Make in India for the world’ underscores India’s aspirations to become an alternative hub of supply chains under the National Manufacturing Policy. The Supply Chain Resilience Initiative kickstarted by India, Japan and Australia aims at attracting FDI in the Indo-Pacific while building complementary partnerships with partner countries. The import restrictions on Chinese products and investments amid boost to develop domestic capabilities is aimed at gathering leverage in supply chain dynamics, a plausible insurance from Chinese politics.
Delineating Excessive Dependence of China in the Global Economic Order
As China’s economy outperforms other G20 economies, the frisking and boycott of Chinese products showcases diversification attempts in India’s economy. The various farm, labour and environmental legislations are aimed at creating a conducive atmosphere for corporations as India lacks the ability to match China’s stimulus packages. India’s withdrawal from RCEP and current negotiations with UK, European Union, ASEAN and Eurasian Economic Union over Free Trade Agreements outlines India’s cost-benefit approach to outgrow its dependence on China while decisively pursuing its national interests.
Building Strategic Capabilities
With the IV Industrial Revolution round the corner, India’s aspiration to connect its rural markets is evident through TSDSI’s Radio Interface Technology standard being accepted by the ITU enabling 5G broadband usage in rural markets amid investments from celebrity tech giants boosting the digital transformation of the domestic market. This is coupled with the push to drive India’s services and agriculture segment by implementing National Digital Health Mission, National Education Policy and investments in Animal Husbandry Infrastructure Development Fund, Agriculture Infrastructure Fund and proposal to form Farmer Producer Organisations across the country. In the light of such developments, India’s strategic partnerships with Asia-Pacific powers such as UK, USA, Japan, Australia, France, Russia, UAE, Saudi Arabia and Israel spanning defence, trade, climate change, space, culture, terrorism, infrastructure, vaccine development and technology indicates India’s approach of realist liberalism as propagated by E. H. Carr towards nurturing capabilities at home while demonstrating fair play and transparency in the emerging world order.
Shift from Alliance to Partnership Building
As India’s South Asian neighbours hedge their interests with China, India’s cat and mouse chase with its neighbours is visible through the review mechanism of bilateral developmental projects with Nepal, trade and medical aid to Bhutan, Afghanistan and Bangladesh, economic aid to Sri Lanka and Maldives. Although India’s commitments in Iran, Sri Lanka, Bangladesh, Nepal, Malaysia have come under scanner, India’s trade and investment objectives remain optimistic despite the diplomatic or economic footfalls. In the wake of rising nationalism and need for global governance, India seeks to build partnerships over alliances on the bedrock of security, development and trust. Hence, China’s encroachment on India’s territories and South China Sea has heralded India’s rapprochement with Taiwan, Vietnam and Russia while advancing QUAD partnership to balance China’s leverage in military, technology, trade and culture by boosting bilateral relations. India’s apprehensiveness of China being a sole partner for Russia is evident in its invitation to Russia to join the Indo-Pacific engagement and Russia’s reciprocal bonhomie with India during June 2020 Victory Day parade, SCO, RIC and BRICS summits. However, India’s strategic ties with Russia comes with a grain of salt given latter’s acrimonious relations with the West, hence, India has sought to diversify its defence procurement from Russia (India’s major defence partner) to that of Israel, France and USA.
India’s Multi-Alignment Strategy
India’s focus lies not only on capacity-building but also on ethics and morality in the emerging Asia-Pacific order. As opposed to China’s debt trap diplomacy, India’s infrastructure commitments in Nepal, Bangladesh, Maldives, Sri Lanka, Iran, Russia, etc. have been transparent which raises the stakes for cooperation as a multi-faceted India, provides a level of comfort to diverse societies like Iran, Russia, Taiwan, Vietnam, Maldives, Japan, etc. given the sense of trust, both in terms of talent and transparency aiding the development of fruitful diplomatic, political or economic ties. This has enabled India’s resonating success in the Vande Bharat operations displaying India’s commitment to globalisation while marking 74 years of vibrant democracy ushering the confidence of the world leaders in assimilating India within the D-10 and G-7 frameworks despite being a G-20 member. India’s contribution to climate change through Coalition on Disaster Resilient Infrastructure, International Thermonuclear Experimental Reactor in France and developing One World One Sun One Grid (OWOSOG) initiative against the backdrop of International Solar Alliance has been noteworthy while space cooperation with Nigeria, Japan, Russia, UAE, Saudi Arabia and Oman portrays its creditability quotient in space activities.
As security cooperation in Indian Ocean Region (IOR) remains paramount, India while capitalizing on the depressed oil prices given its strategic ties with Saudi Arabia, UAE and the US had been accommodative of Saudi Arabia and UAE’s ambitions in IOR through Indian Ocean Naval Symposium (IONS) and Indian Ocean Rim Association (IORA) membership while being mindful not to upset the US pertaining to its involvement in Iran ultimately costing the Chahbahar project for India. India being the headquarters for IFC- IOR has gained the geopolitical spotlight funnelling support from France and Germany in the IOR region against the backdrop of coveted logistics agreements with Australia, Japan, Russia (upcoming), South Korea, Singapore and the US. Earmarking International Yoga Day on 21 June 2020 to promoting its Buddhist heritage, India has sought to improve its soft power prospects to be at par with China as Persons of Indian Origin secure high offices in Western democracies and corporations while the Indian diaspora gains the limelight in the 2020 US Presidential elections and Gulf states. India’s cooperation in providing medical aid to countries alienated by the pandemic and ensuing reciprocal aid from France, Israel, etc. has garnered India the goodwill of the world community as the ‘Pharmacy of the World’ while providing disaster relief under SAARC COVID-19 emergency fund, Mauritius oil spill and Cyclone Amphan to Bangladesh. This coupled with India’s rising prospects on indigenous vaccine development for less-developed countries amid cooperation to manufacture Oxford-Astra Zeneca and Russia’s Sputnik-V vaccine envisages India’s role to carry out multi-faceted roles in the international arena for the common good.
Conclusion
NR Narayana Murthy has rightly enumerated that ‘The first responsibility of a leader is to craft a grand vision, articulate it and raise the aspiration, confidence, hope and enthusiasm of his people.’ India’s conscientious rigour has been noteworthy in plurilateral and multilateral engagements given its pragmatic embedment within a multipolar world with bipolar characteristics. Thus, as India battles its internal and external limitations to push itself from its comfort sphere, India’s recognition by the world community is pertinent to develop itself into a potential wedge to forestall China’s assertiveness in the wake of geostrategic developments in the Indo-Pacific region.
