Syllabus: Bilateral, regional and global groupings and agreements involving India and/or affecting India’s interests
Context: Prime Minister Modi will attend 47th ASEAN Summit virtually on October 26, dropping Malaysia travel plan; cites ongoing Deepavali celebrations. External Affairs Minister S. Jaishankar will lead the Indian delegation at the Kuala Lumpur summit, representing Prime Minister Modi.
About Association of Southeast Asian Nations (ASEAN)
- Inter-governmental grouping promoting political-economic cooperation and regional stability in Asia.
- Established 1967 in Bangkok via ASEAN Declaration (Bangkok Declaration) by 5 founding members (Indonesia, Malaysia, Philippines, Singapore, Thailand).
- Currently 10 members; Headquarters: Jakarta, Indonesia.
- Institutional Mechanism
- ASEAN Summit: Annual meetings on regional issues; rotating presidency.
- ASEAN Coordinating Council (ACC): Oversees implementation of agreements.
- ASEAN Secretariat: Supports activities and initiatives.
- ASEAN Regional Forum (ARF): Dialogue platform on political-security issues among members and partners (India joined 1996).
- Decision-making: Through consultation and consensus.
- ASEAN Future Forum
- Proposed by Vietnam at 43rd Summit (2023).
- Platform for member states and partners to share ideas and policy recommendations.
- India is founding member.
- Importance of ASEAN for India
- Economic Partnership
- 4th largest trading partner; 11% of India’s global trade.
- Bilateral trade: $122.67 billion (2023-24).
- Strategic Importance
- ASEAN Centrality crucial to India’s ‘Act East’ policy and ‘Indo-Pacific’ strategy.
- Role in eastern neighbourhood stability (e.g., Myanmar).
- Balances China’s influence in region.
- Connectivity and Development
- Boosts northeast India’s economic development via connectivity projects (Kaladan Multi-Modal Transport Project).
- Secures critical maritime routes (Malacca Strait) for India’s maritime security and trade.
- Soft Power
- Tourism and education exchanges strengthen goodwill between regions.
- Economic Partnership
- Challenges in India-ASEAN Relations
- Economic
- India’s Regional Comprehensive Economic Partnership (RCEP) exit created disappointment.
- Trade deficit increased from $9.66 billion (2016-17) to $43.57 billion (2022-23).
- Strategic
- Bilateral engagement preferred over multilateral approach.
- Chinese influence via BRI limits ASEAN’s ability to harness India’s potential.
- Economic
- Connectivity
- Delayed infrastructure projects (Kaladan, India-Myanmar-Thailand Trilateral Highway) impede economic cooperation.
- Way Forward
- 10-Point Plan strengthens collaboration (India’s 2018 Shangri La Dialogue vision).
- Enhanced connectivity and resilience
- People-centric initiatives
- Educational cooperation
- Disaster resilience and health
- Digital and cyber resilience
- Update ASEAN-India FTA to address trade imbalances.
- Robust maritime cooperation for securing sea lines of communication in Indo-Pacific.
- ‘Indo-Pacific Maritime Partnership’ with ASEAN nations to counterbalance China.
- Complete connectivity projects (India-Myanmar-Thailand Highway); explore extension to other ASEAN countries.
- 10-Point Plan strengthens collaboration (India’s 2018 Shangri La Dialogue vision).
Q- Discuss the significance of the ASEAN Regional Forum (ARF) for India’s security interests in the Indo-Pacific. How can India leverage ASEAN institutional mechanisms to counterbalance China’s growing influence in the region? (10 Marks)