Key phrases: Indo-pacific, quad, string of pearls, Indo-Pacific Strategy, Association of Southeast Asian Nations (ASEAN), Territorial integrity, sovereignty.

Context

The United States remains focused long-term on the Indo-Pacific region despite concerns over Russian aggression toward Ukraine, U.S. Secretary of State Antony Blinken said.

What is the Indo-Pacific region?

• The Indo-Pacific region refers to the confluence of the Pacific and Indian Oceans, which interconnect in Southeast Asia.
• The German geopolitician Karl Haushofer first used "Indo-Pacific" in the 1920s in multiple works on geography and geopolitics: Geopolitics of the Pacific Ocean (1924), Building Blocks of Geopolitics (1928), Geopolitics of Pan-Ideas (1931), and German Cultural Politics in the Indo-Pacific Space (1939).
• Many experts believe that the shift from Asia-Pacific to Indo-Pacific is the exponential economic growth ranging from India to China and Japan.
• The entire Indo-Pacific rim of island states, larger countries like Vietnam and South Korea, and the Indian and Chinese giants have become economically interconnected and now represent the world’s biggest trade markets. Several studies show that at least 50 percent of global GDP will be shared by the Indo-Pacific region.
• In recent years, the Indo-Pacific strategy and the Quad concept have been introduced and advocated by various countries at various points in time. For example Shinzo Abe held talks with Indian Prime Minister and promoted the "Indo-Pacific Strategy" several times.

An Analysis of Intentions and Interests of Countries under the "Indo-Pacific Strategy

THE UNITED STATES

• The United States is the leader of the "Indo-Pacific Strategy“. At present, the United States has put forward the "Indo-Pacific Strategy" which reflects the attention of the United States to the Indian Ocean region.
• Through its economic rise in recent years India has become a leader among emerging economies. On the other hand, after the retreat of Obama's "Asia-Pacific rebalancing" strategy, the Asia-Pacific power structure involved corresponding adjustments. The "Indo-Pacific Strategy" is the expansion and revision of the "Asia-Pacific rebalancing strategy." The purpose is to contain China's rise and safeguard U.S leadership in the region.

JAPAN

• Japan, as an important ally of the United States in the Asia-Pacific region, plays an important role in the conception and promotion of the India Pacific.
• Apart from its own insecurities as an island nation, the reason that Japan is so clearly united with India and the United States is Japan’s vigilance against and concerns about China’s rising economic and military capabilities.

INDIA

• India has always been a country with great national ambitions and is one of the most important advocates of the concept of "Indo-Pacific Strategy“.
• India can take this opportunity to promote the justification and rationalization of its interests in Southeast Asia; expand its presence in East Asia, strengthen its political, economic and military cooperation with the United States and its allies, and comprehensively increase India’s influence in international affairs.

AUSTRALIA

• Australia was one of the earliest countries to introduce the concept of “India”. In the 1960s, Australia discussed the exertion of its influence in the “India” region to avoid its own difficulties in the Cold War.
• Today, Australia actively welcomes the “Indo-Pacific” strategy promoted by the United States and emphasizes its important position in the United States’ “Indo-Pacific” strategy, not only because Australia wants to enhance US-Australia trade relations, but also it wants to improve its presence and scope of interest in Southeast Asia.

SOUTHEAST ASIAN COUNTRIES

• To link the “Indian Ocean” with “Pacific Ocean”, Southeast Asia becomes a key area that cannot be bypassed. Indonesia and Singapore are also supporters of the "Indo-Pacific Strategy" concept.
• Due to the location advantages of Indonesia and Singapore themselves, the concept of “Indo-Pacific” will have the opportunity to enhance its strategic position.
• Small and medium-sized countries are caught between China and the United States. On the one hand, they are afraid of the regional order changes brought about by the rise of China. On the other hand, they do not want to lose their share of the dividends brought about by China's economic development.

China’s growing clout

• China has been steadily building its influence in the Indo-Pacific region militarily.
• China is monopolising strategic choke points in the Indian Ocean region by investing in geopolitically important ports from Hong Kong to Sudan. The String of Pearls quite literally encircles neighbouring countries, particularly India.
• Beijing is also reinforcing its defence capabilities at a tactical level through military exercises in areas such as the Taiwan Strait, the Spratly Islands, the Paracel Islands, and the Senkaku/Diaoyu Islands.
• China's development financing in the region is also significant. Under China’s ambitious Belt and Road Initiative, infrastructure projects in Asia continued to receive the largest share of financing, which, according to data provider Refinitiv, exceeded US$4 trillion in the first quarter of 2020.

Way Forward:

• All the nations that are part of the Indo-Pacific should abide by the international law and should maintain equal access to the common spaces in air and sea. There should be freedom of navigation, unrestricted commerce and peaceful settlement of disputes in accordance with the international law.
• Strong naval capabilities, multilateral international relations and economic integration with nations are essential for India to meet the challenges within the Indo-Pacific region.
• Encouragement of multipolarity with respect to peace and security, and implementation of the ‘Maritime Domain Security’ is a must. There should also be good connectivity in the region. The sovereignty, territorial integrity, of the countries involved should be respected, and characteristics like good governance, transparency, and sustainability should be more focused upon.

Source: The Hindu  , First-Post , Indian Express

Mains Questions

Q. China has been steadily building its influence in the Indo-Pacific region militarily and Strategically, In this context Discuss India’s role in strengthening Security, stability, peace and prosperity in indo-pacific region?(250 words)