Modi reinforces act east policies in singapore

Prime Minister Modi’s participation in the Shangri-La Dialogue was a manifestation of India’s growing commitment to the security of the “Indo-Pacific” Region, extending from India and Malacca, to the
Modi at Shangri-La Dialogue
Modi at Shangri-La Dialogue

Prime Minister Modi’s participation in the Shangri-La Dialogue was a manifestation of India’s growing commitment to the security of the “Indo-Pacific” Region, extending from India and Malacca, to the shores of the eastern Pacific. A significant amount of India’s trade and investment moves across this route. The dialogue, hosted by India’s closest eastern partner Singapore, primarily brings together the Defence Ministers and Defence Experts of 28 countries, from across the Indian and Pacific Oceans, including the US, Russia, China and Japan. Mr Modi’s participation in this forum is the logical outcome of India’s “Look East” policies initiated by the late PM PV Narasimha Rao. His presence sent a clear signal of Indian solidarity with many eastern neighbours, no feeling the coercive pressures of Chinese maritime,territorial ambitions.

The dialogue provided an opportunity for Mr Modi to spell out how India views the emerging world order and correct impressions that it had an exclusively America-centric foreign policy. After voicing high praise for Singapore, Mr Modi made it clear that India would continue to regard ASEAN as the fulcrum for its engagement, beyond its eastern shores. Dispelling propaganda that the Americans were overly influencing India’s policies, Mr Modi commenced his references to major powers by alluding to his recent meeting with Russia’s President Putin.

He noted that India, like Russia, favoured a multipolar world. He alluded to the US in the context of a “shared vision of an open, stable, secure and prosperous “Indo-Pacific Region”.

Mr Modi clearly wanted to reassure regional powers that India was determined to improve relations with China. He made pointed reference to his two days “informal summit” meeting with President Xi Jinping, which had “helped us cement our understanding that strong and stable relations between our two nations are an important factor for global peace and progress”. He also made pointed references to the need for all countries to respect International Maritime Conventions, like the International Convention on the Law of the Sea. China has maritime boundary disputes on virtually all its neighbours, from South Korea and Japan to Vietnam, the Philippines and Indonesia.

Mr Modi had agreed to expand maritime and naval cooperation, by participating in the development of the Port of Sabang, overlooking the entrance to the strategic Straits of Malacca, during his visit to Indonesia. He also agreed to a pact with Singapore on logistical support for naval ships, submarines and military aircraft, during visits. Referring to China’s One Belt One Road initiative, Mr Modi cautioned others on the dangers of getting into a debt trap by partnerships on regional connectivity, on purely commercial terms.

The emerging approach to deal with China after the Doklam tensions is clear. India and China will endeavour to ensure that there are no tensions along their borders, by mutually observing steps to avoid tensions between their armed forces. Effort will be made to promote trade and investment ties with China, and cooperate in forums such as BRICS and the Shanghai Cooperation Organisation, for building a multipolar world order. India would, however, exercise caution in moving forward in the proposed agreement for Comprehensive Economic Cooperation, which would make its entire eastern neighbourhood a Free Trade Area. India can ill-afford to casually endorse such a proposal, given its adverse balance of trade with China.

Mr Modi’s Shangri-La address has spelt out clearly to the world, how India will move forward, in a complex world, with leaders like China’s strongman Xi, America’s unpredictable and mercurial Donald Trump and Russia’s unflappable Vladimir Putin.

G Parthasarathy

Former diplomat

dadpartha@gmail.com

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