India’s swivel to Asean

POLICY MATTERS

INDIA’S Republic Day celebrations last month sent a strong message. It announced as strikingly as possible that it is swivelling to Asean.

India’s “Look East” policy goes back to the days of the then prime minister, P. V. Narasimha Rao., who realised the importance of East Asia, and Asean, in particular.

Prime Minister Narendra Modi has taken the policy a step further with his “Act East” policy. The metaphor has progressed from one of watching to that of activity, or rather of active participation.

The symbolic gestures at the Republic Day celebrations were taken to a spectacular high. The 10 Asean leaders witnessed the parade. As if that were not enough, India’s highest honours were bestowed on many prominent civilians from Southeast Asia.

Malaysia’s famed dancer, Datuk Ramli Ibrahim was one such recipient. He received the coveted Padma Shri award.

These signs are indicative of two things. One, that Asean is important on the global stage, whether or not President Trump is willing to acknowledge this. Two, it shows that India knows that it has come of age, wants other nations to know that it has come of age, and wants them to know that it will participate in and cooperate with the development of Asean.

The second point is the more important one.

But has India done no more that wave its hands and fingers in colourful patterns up to Jan 26, 2018? No, not really. After a period of distancing itself from Myanmar, India has re-entered the picture. Modi has offered assistance with the housing