Indo Pacific Region
- In recent years, the phrase “Indo-Pacific” has emerged as a cutting-edge idea.
- The Indo-Pacific region offers a vast geographic and geopolitical area with 10 ASEAN nations bridging the two oceans.
- In order to guarantee a common, rules-based order, freedom of navigation, and unhindered commerce in conformity with international law, security in the region must be established through discussion.
- India supports a fair, stable, and rules-based trading environment in the Indo-Pacific. Projects that offer long-term connectivity and are advantageous to both parties should be promoted frequently.
India’s strategic importance in the Indo-Pacific region:
- More than half of the world’s population and GDP are concentrated in the Indo-Pacific area, a multipolar zone. A crucial tenet of India’s strategic engagement with other nations, particularly the United States, is the creation of an Indo-Pacific region that is stable, peaceful, and wealthy.
- Mineral Resources:Important resources including fish stocks, minerals, and offshore oil and gas are now stored in large part in maritime zones.
- 48 For instance, it is anticipated that the South China Sea will hold 10% of the world’s fish catch, along with 11 billion barrels of oil and 190 trillion cubic feet (tcf) of natural gas.
- Economic Growth:The Indo-Pacific area is the single largest contributor to global growth, accounting for almost 60% of the world’s GDP, according to a research by the Asian Development Bank (ADB).
- The Straits of Malacca,one of the world’s most significant commercial choke points that is essential to the growth of the global economy, is located in the region. The Indo-Pacific area is also a hub for world trade, with 32.2 million barrels of crude oil passing through annually and 40 percent of all exports.
- Maritime Trade:The Pacific islands are strategically important to New Delhi since they are located along key marine communication routes that are used to conduct significant maritime trade.
The danger posed by China is getting worse:
- Since the Chinese government asserts historical ownership of almost the whole area, it is free to build artificial islands, set up military boundaries around them, and drive out foreign ships from the South China Sea.
- The International Court of Arbitration rejected the claim in 2016.
- China argues that the United Nations Convention on the Law of the Sea (UNCLOS) lacks authority to decide disputes in the South China Sea because it views them as territorial issues.
- India is under pressure to defend its interests and open the market as a result of China’s growing geopolitical influence in the Indian Ocean region and its intentions to use economic and military means to further its geopolitical influence in Asia and beyond.
- The game would currently be in charge of ports and maritime channels.
What needs to be done by India to combat Chinese dominance in the Indo-Pacific:
- It is critical to preserve trading environment stability, rule-based order, and freedom of navigation. Additionally, accessibility, connectivity, and conformity to international laws and standards are important.
- India should concentrate on the connection between the Indo-Chinese border region and the East China Sea. In order to deal with China, India needs to work with Japan and the US. The United States and Japan are prepared to help India improve its border defences with China.
- Japan, the US, and Australia should exchange anti-submarine technology to improve India’s military preparedness.
- The construction of infrastructure in other regional nations is also beneficial. Bangladesh, for instance, previously opted for the Chinese Sonadia port project over the Japanese Martabali port project. China’s Hambantota port will become obsolete if the Trincomalee port project in Sri Lanka, which includes Japanese help, is successful. As a result of Indo-Japanese cooperation, the Asia-Africa Growth Corridor (AAGC) will act as a counterweight to China’s expanding influence in Africa.
- It is impossible to overstate the strategic significance of the Andaman and Nicobar Islands.
- These islands are a great place to watch Chinese submarine activity because of their proximity to the Malacca Straits.
- In order to station additional and larger warships and aircraft in the Andaman and Nicobar Islands, India’s infrastructure must be improved.
- India must create marine alliances with other nations, mainly the United States, such as the Quad, in order to preserve its interests in the South China Sea without hurting China (India, Australia, the United States, and Japan).
- The Indo-Pacific area has a very diverse economy and level of development, as well as a wide range of security organisations and capabilities.
- India is a member of the East Asia Summit, the Association of Southeast Asian Nations (ASEAN) Defence Ministers Meeting Plus, and the Indian Ocean Rim Association (IORA).
- These contacts demonstrate India’s growing sway in the Indo-Pacific region.
- It would be difficult to keep the interests of all parties in correct balance.
- India must so carefully craft its Indo-Pacific strategy while taking into account its long-term strategic and economic goals.
