REGIONAL COOPERATION
of economic tools , like fair and reciprocal trade agreements , and sanctions on China , Russia and Iran ; and third , the global economy is a component of the American Might and must be protected from Chinese intervention . In Aug 2017 , US expressed its desire for India to take a more constructive role in South Asia ( SA ) as a means of incorporating the region in the US ’ strategic sphere .
China ’ s geopolitical theory for the Indo-Pacific region has largely been that of a “ String of Pearls ” around India vis-s-vis geoeconomic development and influence through the mammoth Belt and Road Initiative ( BRI ). The BRI covers parts of Eurasia and Central Asia , encompassing more than 60 countries with the joint GDP of $ 21 trillion that have articulated their growing need for infrastructural connectivity . The scheme comprises of countries that collectively account for about 65 percent of the global population , 1 / 3 of the world ’ s GDP , and quarter of all the goods and services in the world . South Asia features the flagship project of the initiative , the China Pakistan Economic Corridor ( CPEC ) that connects China through the Himalayan corridor to the warm-water Arabian shores of Pakistan , besides other stretches covering Nepal and the Bangladesh-China-India- Myanmar Corridor .
India ’ s policies to counter China ’ s South Asian ambitions are highly significant . There are clear inclinations of India ’ s efforts to reinforce relations with Russia , in the view of growing Moscow-Beijing relations . Strategic harmonisation with Japan and defence relations with Australia , Indonesia , Singapore , Malaysia , and Vietnam has revealed new training exercises . Access to ports for logistical support in France , Oman , Singapore , and Indonesia has extended India ’ s sphere of influence in the Indian Ocean ( IO ). The second Tri-Service Joint Exercise , after the first with Russia , has been agreed with the US . As part of the US policy and strategic worldview , India has agreed to a familiar communication in the Indo-Pacific , Afghanistan , and North Korea ; broadened collaboration on counter terrorism ; and the strategic convergence in the Indo- Pacific or South China Sea with the steadfastness to work for a free , open , and inclusive Indo-Pacific region with right to sovereignty , territorial integrity , rule of law , good governance , free and fair trade , and freedom of navigation and over-flight .
India has stressed upon its Act East Policy , to play a connecting role for larger Indo-Pacific space , but at the same time has developed visible informal channels with China . India under Prime Minister Modi has been explicit about its Neighbourhood First Policy which is yet to be fully realised but does not presage a clear policy vis-à-vis US and China , and it indicates her inclination to the Rebalancing Approach .
Significantly important for smaller nations in South Asia can be the informal and unscheduled Wuhan meet between PM Modi and Chinese President Xi Jinping . Nation states under the Himalayas , such as Afghanistan , Bhutan , and Nepal , are land locked and have access to sea routes through different political , diplomatic , and security arrangement . Bangladesh , Myanmar , and Pakistan have access to the Indian Ocean and can figure in the policy of containment of China by the US and its allies .
BIMSTEC Summit
The year 2016 saw the leaders of Bay of Bengal Initiative for Multi-Sectoral Technical and Economic Cooperation ( BIMSTEC ) revive and participate in the ( BRICS ) -BIMSTEC Outreach Summit in Goa . The first such uncommon arrangement , the summit brought back to the table the importance of BIMSTEC and its potential as a sub-regional corporation in the Asian age .
SAARC and its limitation as a South Asia Forum were discussed . Pakistan ’ s former PM Shahid Khaqan Abbasi visited Nepal soon after KP Oli took office with hopes to transpire the 19th SAARC Summit . There were speculations about India trying to isolate its north-western neighbour diplomatically to counter Pakistan ’ s state sponsored terrorism on India soil . Trump , in the policy paper , has urged India to take a leading role for peace and stability in Afghanistan . If so , India ’ s diplomatic maneuverings must not be a strategic diplomatic slip .
When South Asia as a region seemed scattered with road blocks in SAARC , the BIMSTEC Summit got a nod from sub-regional leaders coming together to stress the importance of a regional organisation for peace and stability . Seven head of governments of South Asia and South East Asia ( SEA ) except for China and Nations of South West Asia ( SWA ) met in Kathmandu on 30-31st Aug .
SA nations , SEA nations and Central Asian Nations ( CAN ) are part of regional , intergovernmental and sub-regional organisations like SAARC , BIMSTEC , Association of South East Asian Nations ( ASEAN ), Bangladesh , Bhutan , India and Nepal Motor Vehicle Agreement ( BBIN MVA ), South Asia Sub-Regional Economic ( SASEC ) and Central Asia Regional Economic Co-operation Program ( CAREC ).
Five SAARC nations , excluding the island nation of Maldives that lies in the IO and two nations in SWA Afghanistan and Pakistan , and two of the ten members of ASEAN are a part of BIMSTEC . Afghanistan and Pakistan , with nine other nations of CAN , are a part of the Central Asia Regional Economic Corporation ( CAREC ) grouping with imperatives that CAN resources be utilised for the economic and political stability of the region . South Asia must act as a bridge between East and Central Asia for justifying the blitz of globalisation and make the most of regional assets , resources and geographical advantage .
BIMSTEC started with focus on economic enhancement driven by six sectors : trade , technology , energy , transport , tourism , and fisheries , and expanded to embrace nine more
44 • Extraordinary and Plenipotentiary Diplomatist • Vol 6 • Issue 9 • September 2018 , Noida