The Elephant in the Room: India’s Nuanced Approach to the Indo-pacific

India’s Nuanced Approach to the Indo-pacific

India faces a balancing act over other nations’ approach to the Indo-pacific region. But it eyes with growing concern China’s increasing involvement in its traditional neighborhood in the Indian ocean.

India is engaged in a complex balancing act as countries such as the US and Japan make the concept of a free and open Indopacific centerpieces of their foreign policy in the region. New Delhi is understandably eager to forge closer links to fellow democracies in Asia, without triggering Chinese worries about containment aimed at Beijing. But it is also eying with growing concern China’s increasing involvement in its traditional neighborhood in the Indian Ocean, writes Rup Narayan Das.

The “INDO-PACIFIC” is essentially a geo-strategic construct, rather than a geographical entity, that is of recent coinage. It is understood to mean confluence and seamless connectivity between the Indian ocean and the Pacific ocean. Japanese Prime Minister Shinzo Abe, in his address to members of the Indian Parliament on Aug. 22, 2007, on the “Confluence of the Two Seas” articulated the verticals of the concept when he said, “The Pacific and the Indian oceans are now bringing about a dynamic coupling as seas of freedom and prosperity. A ‘broader Asia’ that broke away geographical boundaries is now beginning to take on a distinct form. our two countries have the ability — and the responsibility — to ensure that it broadens yet further and nurtures and enriches these seas of clearest transparence.”

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The tectonic shift of the geo-economy from the Atlantic to the Asia-pacific, together with China’s economic and military rise, has underpinned the growing strategic significance of the region, and has thrown up both challenges and opportunities for countries in the region. The defining aspect of this unfolding geo-strategic scenario is the effort of the United States to maintain its pre-eminence in the region. The departure of the administration of US President Barack obama’s administration and the arrival of President donald Trump’s witnessed some obfuscation of US foreign policy. Initially, Trump followed a policy of “America First” and tried to withdraw from many US international commitments. But its engagement in the Asia-pacific has not only remained intact, it has received further attention.

China’s posturing to challenge US supremacy in the region has added salience to the evolving security scenario. India, yet another rising power, is playing a catalytic role in this evolving