Quad can be the anchor for the Indo-pacific region
That Indonesia, the largest country in ASEAN, has signed on to the concept, will increase its acceptability for others
The Shangri-la Dialogue at Singapore became the platform where India, the US, Australia and Japan, adopted the Indo-pacific as the organising template for a new security architecture encompassing the inter-connected ocean space of the Indian and Pacific Oceans. If this was meant to impress the Chinese, foreign minister Wang Yi suggested quite the opposite. He dismissed it as an “attention grabbing idea” that would “dissipate like the ocean foam”.
Wang had a good reason to be dismissive. In his speech at Singapore, Prime Minister Modi took the sting out of the Indo-pacific construct by denying its strategic intent. This is what he said: “India does not see the Indo-pacific as a strategy or as a club of limited members. Nor as a grouping that seeks to dominate. And by no means… as directed against any country.”
Even if this were so, should not there be at least an intent to resist a power or group of Nor could I imagine living in Syria where we hear of an increase in child marriage following the seven-year war.
But since I have no idea what it’s like to be a woman in other countries, I declined to participate in the Thomson Reuters Foundation survey. I was, I said, in no position to compare.
What I do know is what it’s like to be a woman in India.
I do know what it’s like to worry about your daughter’s safe return home from the time she steps out of the front door. I do know what it’s like to accept that groping and leering is a part of your everyday commute and that public spaces have an unwritten ‘no women’ policy that is carried forward to our institutions including the Parliament and the judiciary. powers “that seeks to dominate”? What is India’s vision of the Indo-pacific? During Modi’s visit to Indonesia in May, India and Indonesia pledged to realise a “free, open, transparent, rules-based, peaceful, prosperous and inclusive Indo-pacific region”. Further, the two countries committed themselves to “strengthening the existing security architecture in the Indo-pacific which is anchored in ASEAN-LED mechanisms”. Does this imply that there is no need for a new Indo-pacific security architecture since this is already embedded in ASEAN-LED mechanisms? And what are the rules being referred to?
There is also the issue of what geography is covered by the Indo-pacific concept. The joint statement with Indonesia would suggest a more limited theatre, essentially covering the ocean spread east of the India subcontinent, especially if it is anchored in “ASEAN-LED mechanisms”. However, on other occasions, Indo-pacific is said to extend from “the eastern shores of Africa to the western shores of the United States”. There has been a longstanding Indian Ocean strategy pursued by India covering both its western and eastern reaches. However, with the rapid increase of its political, economic and security profile in Southeast and East Asia, including China, India’s Act East has stretched into what was
I read about escalating sexual assault and the unspeakable violence that often accompanies it: Girls strung up from trees, burned to death or eviscerated. Then, I hear people justifying the rape and murder of an eight-year-old child in Kathua.
We cheer when Kailash Satyarthi wins a Nobel Prize but ignore that 80% of all sex workers or 16 million women and girls are, according to the non-governmental organisation Dasra, victims of sex trafficking. Honour the man, ignore his message.
Frankly, I find this business of ranking ‘worst’ countries to be tedious. To be bad is bad enough; better or worse is an academic argument.
The perception of 548 experts can never be the final truth. But to know that truth, you don’t need a survey of even one. You only have to live in India as a woman.
The patriotic thing to do is to fix it, not huff and puff at the poor messenger.
In any case, why aren’t we asking if India is better than Norway or Sweden? Now that’s an argument I’d love to have. earlier an Asia-pacific theatre, from which it was excluded. The change in nomenclature from Asia-pacific to Indo-pacific is a recognition of this eastward spread of Indian influence and, to that extent, is welcome.
Where does the “Quadrilateral”, or the Quad, fit into the Indo-pacific construct? At the second meeting of the revived four nation forum comprising India, the US, Japan and Australia, held in Singapore , each of the participants spoke of their commitment to “a free, open, prosperous and inclusive Indo-pacific region,” as also a “rules-based order”. So the Quad is the anchor for the Indo-pacific. There was also a reference to “ASEAN centrality” as playing an indispensable role in regional security which echoes the earlier India-indonesia joint statement. This is important because of the perception lately that ASEAN A few weeks ago, I had the privilege of coming across a guy whose story left me inspired. He is pursuing his postgraduation besides giving tuitions. Following his passion with dedication, he plays cricket for India. You might be wondering, what’s inspiring about his story? Well, the guy is physically challenged and has difficulty walking without support. He plays as a cricketer in the Indian Wheelchair Cricket Team. His positive spirit, helpful nature and zeal to pursue his passion of cricket is has already been rendered irrelevant by Chinese power, and that ASEAN centrality is a myth. Southeast Asian countries don’t wish to be caught in a crossfire between the US and China, or China and India. But their wariness about China is clear. Reasserting ASEAN centrality is a rejection of Chinese claim to centrality. The acceptance of ASEAN centrality gives the Quadrilateral more credibility in the region and makes it easier for ASEAN countries to accept the Indo-pacific construct. That Indonesia, as the largest country in ASEAN, has signed on to the concept will make it easier for other member countries to accept it.
The partners in the Quadrilateral spoke of an inclusive and rule-based order in the IndoPacific. Is China willing to be part of a “free, open, transparent , inclusive and rule-based order in the Indo-pacific?” If it is not, then there must be a willingness on the part of the other major powers, including India, to constrain its unilateral assertion of power. Whether the Indo-pacific dissipates “like the ocean foam” or becomes a powerful wave of resistance to Chinese hegemony depends on the path China chooses to traverse but equally on how the Quad countries strengthen their engagement beyond periodic consultations. The unpredictability and uncertainty unleashed by the Trump presidency has adversely affected the prospects for the Quad.
India has maintained various circles of engagement such as the Quad, ASEAN, BRICS, and SCO (Shanghai Cooperation Organisation). These give Indian foreign policy room for manoeuvre vis-à-vis major powers and enhance its strategic autonomy. In this period of multiple transitions this may be the best course to follow, but it is the Quad which may eventually emerge as the critical instrument to manage the China challenge.
WE CHEER WHEN KAILASH SATYARTHI WINS A NOBEL PRIZE BUT IGNORE THAT 80% OF 16 MILLION WOMEN ARE VICTIMS OF SEX TRAFFICKING
motivating. The best part is that he is not ashamed of his disability.
I realised that all my wounds and scars are small in front of the broken wings of this guy. We often become very negative about life even at the slightest hint of our troubles. Instead of focusing on finding our way through, we focus more on the obstacle. We get troubled by looking at the severity of the high tide rather than enjoying it with our surfboard. Remember, every situation can be transformed. You only need a positive outlook. The guy made me realise that you can fly even with broken wings. And when you do so, you leave others in awe, setting an example for all to follow.