India’s Act East Policy, Significance and Challenges

Context: Prime Minister Narendra Modi’s recent visit to Brunei and Singapore marked a strategic emphasis on India’s “Act East” policy.

What is India’s Act East Policy?

• The Act East Policy, introduced in November 2014, is an enhanced version of the “Look East Policy.”
• The policy focuses on sustained engagement with Southeast Asian nations in areas such as connectivity, trade, culture, defence, and people-to-people exchanges at bilateral, regional, and multilateral platforms.

Aim

• The primary goal is to strengthen economic cooperation, cultural ties, and strategic relations with Indo-Pacific countries through a proactive and practical approach.
• The policy also seeks to boost the economic development of India’s North Eastern Region (NER), serving as a gateway to Southeast Asia.

Difference Between The Look East Policy And Act East Policy

Initiatives to Enhance Connectivity under Act East Policy

• Agartala-Akhaura Rail Link: This rail link between India and Bangladesh aims to strengthen regional connectivity.
• Intermodal Transport and Inland Waterways: Initiatives include linking transport modes and utilising inland waterways through Bangladesh to improve trade routes.
• Kaladan Multimodal Transit Transport Project & Trilateral Highway: These projects aim to connect India’s North East with Myanmar and Thailand, enhancing connectivity with Southeast Asia.
• India-Japan Act East Forum Projects: Under this forum, projects like road and bridge construction and hydroelectric power modernization have been initiated.
• India-Japan Act East Forum (2017): Established to collaborate on India’s “Act East Policy” and Japan’s “Free and Open Indo-Pacific Strategy,” the forum focuses on modernising the North-East region’s infrastructure and promoting people-to-people exchanges.
• Support During the Pandemic: India extended medical assistance, including medicines and supplies, to ASEAN countries during the COVID-19 pandemic.
• PhD Fellowships for ASEAN Participants: India offered 1000 PhD fellowships at IITs for participants from ASEAN countries to foster academic collaboration.
• Quick Impact Projects (QIPs): India is implementing small-scale, low-cost development projects in Cambodia, Laos, Myanmar, and Vietnam, targeting areas like education, water resources, and health.
• Coastal Shipping and Inland Water Transport Initiatives: To increase the modal share of coastal shipping, 46 initiatives were identified under the Amrit Kaal Vision 2047, focusing on port-based centres, coastal berths, and improving road, rail, and inland water infrastructure.

Significance Of India’s ‘Act East’ Policy

• Counterweight to China: India’s proactive Act East policy positions it as a counterbalance to China’s aggressive behaviour in the South China Sea and the broader Indo-Pacific region.
  • This is particularly important for countries like Vietnam, the Philippines, and others that face territorial disputes with China.
• Strategic Outreach: The BrahMos missile deal between India and the Philippines, signed in 2022, highlights India’s growing strategic presence in Southeast Asia.
  • By providing the Philippines with military support, India strengthens its role in regional security, specifically against China’s assertiveness.
• Regional Security Cooperation: India’s active participation in regional security forums like the 2+2 Ministerial Dialogue with Japan and the Quadrilateral Dialogue (Quad) shows its increased engagement in the evolving security architecture of the Indo-Pacific.
• Economic and Diplomatic Engagement: India’s deepening relationships with countries like South Korea and Japan, which share concerns about China, underscore the growing strategic partnership in the Indo-Pacific region.
• Impact of Bangladesh’s Political Developments: Bangladesh’s significance in operationalizing the Act East policy is noted.
  • Concerns about potential challenges if a less friendly government comes into power, which could affect regional cooperation and initiatives like BIMSTEC.
• Strengthened Role in the Indo-Pacific: Over the years, India has successfully transitioned from the Look East policy to the Act East policy, expanding its footprint in Southeast Asia and the Indo-Pacific.
  • India is becoming an integral part of the region’s security and economic landscape.

Challenges to Act East Policy

Dealing with China: India faces dual strategies from China:

• China encircles India through initiatives like the “string of pearls” and the China-Pakistan Economic Corridor (CPEC) in disputed territories.
• Simultaneously, China seeks India’s cooperation on global issues like climate change and globalisation.

Steps for an Assertive Act East Policy

Tackling China

• As China asserts its presence in the Indian Ocean, India should increase its engagement in the South China Sea.
• Collaboration with the Quad and ASEAN countries is crucial, along with India’s partnership with Vietnam in oil exploration in the South China Sea.
• India is also working with Indonesia to develop the Sabang port near the strategic Strait of Malacca.
• The Indo-Pacific Oceans Initiative focuses on partnerships for maritime security, sustainable use of marine resources, and disaster prevention and management.

Developing North East

• The success of the Act East Policy relies heavily on improving connectivity in India’s North East region.
• Projects like the India-Myanmar-Thailand Trilateral Highway and the Kaladan Multi-Modal Transit Transport Project need to be expedited to enhance connectivity.

Leveraging Soft Power

• India should focus on its cultural and civilizational strengths while pursuing the Act East Policy, as the region shares ancient ties through Buddhism and Hinduism.
• India’s freedom fighters also forged historical connections with Southeast and East Asia.
• In modern times, India’s cultural influence has expanded due to globalisation and technological advances.
• The Indian diaspora plays a key role in strengthening people-to-people connections, further enhancing India’s cultural and civilizational ties in the region.

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