REPORT ON

INDIA PRESENCE IN SOUTH-EAST ASIA: PROGRESS &PROSPERITY

SUBMITTED BY,

RAJIV KUMAR , ROLL.NO. I D : 84504

CPIS/PIS , SIS , JNU , DELHI-67

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INDIA PRESENCE ON SOUTH-EAST ASIA : PROGRESS &PROSPERITY

INTRODUCTION:

South East Asia is a vastly scattered region having a broad partattached to mainland of Asia and a number of pacific islands. It issurrounded in north by China, in west by India and all others waterlogged. That’s why between approximately 150 BC and AD 150, most ofsouth Asia was first influenced by the more mature culture of Indiaand China. From these regions an extensive migration followed to theSouth East Asia which altered fundamentally the whole region.Because the mainland of South East Asia influenced the most by Chinaand India by which it also known as the name of Indochina. However,in due of passes of time it also given the formulating terminologyas Indianization and Sinicization of South East Asia by somescholars.

Close cultural interaction of India with Southeast Asia began fromprehistoric times and continued until the beginning of colonialrule. India’s relations with Southeast Asia passed through manyvicissitudes. In the new millennium, India is trying its best to bemajor power in the region with its "Look East" policy. Historically,'Indianization' was the term generally used for Indian culturalinfluence upon Southeast Asia. Earlier scholars had regarded theprocess of 'Indianization' as an Indian initiative with large-scalemigrants establishing colonies in Southeast Asia. According to thesescholars, the latter region was at the receiving end and played apassive role. The arrival of large number of Indians would have madesignificant social changes, but the people of Southeast Although the

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most intensive cultural contact between India and Southeast Asiacame in later centuries, initial contact between the two regionsdates to prehistoric times. There was racial and linguistic affinitybetween certain groups of people of eastern India with SoutheastAsians. Archaeological excavations are also a testimony of theinteraction between the two regions. In the spread of Indianculture, the sea played an important role. There was intensificationof sea-borne commerce in the early centuries of Common Era. Alongwith traders, missionaries, priests, literati, adventurers andfortune seekers went to Southeast Asia. The ancient port ofTamralipti at the mouth of Ganga was one of the earliest places ofembarkation. From there, ships proceeded to the Malay Peninsulaeither along the coasts of Bengal and Myanmar or through the Bay ofBengal.

Modern Period In the colonial period, Indian immigrants went to Southeast Asiancountries to work in plantation fields, where they led a miserablelife. Some also migrated to set up business in textiles, spice tradeand retailing. Indian moneylenders did a fine business. The colonialbureaucracy and army had also sizable number of Indians. In theBritish colonies of Malay, Singapore and Myanmar, Indians worked inrubber, coffee and tea plantations. The British brought to Singaporeindentured laborers, mainly from southern India for constructionwork. The Indian independence movement provided a stimulant to theanti-colonial struggle in Southeast Asia. Southeast Asian leaders,such as Sukarno, Norodom Sihanouk, Aung San, and Ho Chi Minh admiredIndian personalities like Mahatma Gandhi, Rabindranath Tagore, andJawaharlal Nehru. Many Southeast Asians also attended the sessionsof the Indian National Congress and met Indian leaders. In theframework of the freedom struggle, the Indian leaders mooted theconcept of Asianism and emphasized the spiritualism of Asia overmaterialistic west. They called upon a common Asian identity inopposition to the West. After India gained independence in 1947, itpursued a dynamic policy towards Southeast Asia.

Contemporary India-Southeast Asian Relations 3

Free from ideological rhetoric and the bogey of the cold war, Indiamoved closer towards Southeast Asian countries. The collapse of theSoviet Union and India’s economic woes resulting from centralizedplanning forced the leadership to think anew. It liberalized itseconomy and decided to keep in tune with the globalization process.The ‘tiger economy’ of the Asia-Pacific Rim was taken intoconsideration. India adopted two-pronged strategy to have closercontact with Southeast Asia. It made diplomatic moves to have closeinteraction with a multilateral ASEAN as well as endeavored to haveclose bilateral ties with the countries of Southeast Asia. India’sperception was that the volume of trade. India, along with China andRussia, became a full dialogue partner of ASEAN in December 1995 atthe Fifth ASEAN Summit in Bangkok. It was the manifestation of aIndia’s "Look East" policy. India's size, population, educatedmiddle class, industrial base, military strength, technicalcapability, ancient cultural relations with Southeast Asia, andpresence of non-resident Indians (NRIs) are factors in India’sfavor.

Objective:-

1 To study the presence of India’s culture, economy, religion and politics on

Southeast Asian Relations

LITERATURE REVIEW:

India, as one of four great ancient civilizations in the world, haveimportant influences on the culture and religions of ancientSoutheast Asia. However, their influences are different. Theinfluence of religious culture in India on the Southeast Asia mainlyin its religious beliefs, almost all the India’s religious beliefshave effect on the Southeast Asia people. “Probably no other countryhas influenced the region as much as India by way of religion,language, and culture and civilization. There is also enormoushistorical evidence to suggest that there were flourishing economicand cultural relations between India and the countries of Southeast

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Asia in the pre-colonial era. While these links were disruptedduring the colonial interlude, it was during the freedom strugglesin India and many countries of Southeast Asia that led to thediscovery of each other” (G. V. C. Naidu, Looking East: India andSoutheast Asia). Indian cooking has influenced much of SoutheastAsia. However, Indian cooking varies throughout the country andaccording to ethnic and religious preference. Close culturalinteraction of India with Southeast Asia began from prehistorictimes and continued until the beginning of colonial rule. India’srelations with Southeast Asia passed through many vicissitudes. Inthe new millennium, India is trying its best to be major power inthe region with its "Look East" policy (Mishra P.P.).

BODY OF PAPER:

In context of India in this region--- The region's chief diversified presenceshave been from India .

Historical influence: South-East Asia was under Indian influence starting around 200 B.C.till around the 15th century. India's had trade, cultural andpolitical relations with Burma, Thailand (Siam),Indonesia,Malay, Peninsula and Cambodia. The peoples of maritime South EastAsia - present-day Malaysia, Indonesia and the Philippines - arethought to have migrated southwards from southern China sometimebetween 2500 and 1500 B.C. They continued to have contacts with theChinese civilisation (well established in the second millenniumB.C.), but the influence of the other long-established civilisationof India gradually became predominant among them, and among thepeoples of the South East Asia mainland. Indian traders,adventurers, teachers and priests continued to be the dominatinginfluence in South East Asia until about A.D. 1500, and Indiansoften ruled the earliest states in these regions. Hinduism andBuddhism both spread to these states from India and for manycenturies existed there with mutual toleration. Eventually thestates of the mainland became mainly Buddhist.Historically, 'Indianization' was the term generally used for Indiancultural influence upon Southeast Asia. Earlier scholars had

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regarded the process of 'Indianization' as an Indian initiative withlarge-scale migrants establishing colonies in Southeast Asia.According to some scholars, the latter region was at the receivingend and played a passive role. The arrival of large number ofIndians would have made significant social changes, but the peopleof Southeast Asia did not adopt the caste system, nor even thedietary habits of the Indians like curry powder or milk products.Politically, none of the supposed Southeast Asia 'colonies' showedany allegiance to India. Economically speaking, the states ofSoutheast Asia were not colonies as there was no scope of economicexploitation. One of other significant factors in the spread of Indian culturalinfluence in Southeast Asia is geographical proximity between tworegions. The fabulous wealth of Southeast Asia was an attraction forthe Indians. The type of names given to different regions ofSoutheast Asia is recognition of this desire for economic gain. TheRamayana, Pali Nidesa and other works refer to Suvarnabhumi (land ofgold), Suvarnadvipa (island of gold), Narikeladvipa (island ofcoconuts), Karpuradvipa (island of camphor), and Yavodvipa (islandof barley).

Social and Cultural influences: The culture in Southeast Asia is very diverse: on mainlandSoutheast Asia, the culture is a real mix of Indian (Burma,Cambodia, Laos, and Thailand) and Chinese (Vietnam), while inIndonesia, the Philippines, Malaysia and Singapore, the culture is amix of Arab, Chinese and Indian.

1. Religion:-

During the first half of the Indian kingdomage, Buddhism and Hinduism vied for religious dominance of India.During the second half, Buddhism dwindled, leaving Hinduism as themajority faith of the region (which it remains today). By this time,however, Buddhism had been widely dispersed by traders, settlers,and missionaries, notably to Bhutan, Sri Lanka, Indochina, and parts

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of East Asia (especially Tibet and Mongolia). In all of theseregions, Buddhism remains the majority religion.

2. Lifestyle and food-habit:

Due to the close proximity of the borders between countries inSoutheast Asia, and to combined influences from India and China thathave affected indigenous taste and cooking styles, the ingredientsare similar throughout most of the region while they are nonethelessmanipulated by each culture to suit their palate and taste. In Asia,there are different styles of eating food. In India and the MiddleEast, as well as Southeast Asia, people eat food with their hands.It is a very direct way to experience the texture of the food, andpeople normally washtheir hands before and after each meal.Normally, only the right hand is used, so that one knows to keep itespecially clean. Generally, the foods to be eaten are placed onplates in the center of the mat or table, and people take food insmall portions as they eat. The exception to this pattern isVietnam, where the influence of China was much stronger thananywhere else in Southeast Asia. Here, each person has chopsticks,and food is served and apportioned onto individual plates or intoindividual bowls. A similar pattern is found in other Asiancountries where Chinese influence was especially strong, e.g.,Japan, Tibet, and Korea.

Indian cooking has influenced much of Southeast Asia. However,Indian cooking varies throughout the country and according to ethnicand religious preference. Most know that Muslims do not eat pork,and that the month of Ramadan (the ninth month of the Muslim lunarcalendar) is a time of fasting for Muslims all over the world.Muslims may neither eat nor drink during the daylight hours of thismonth. Curries originated in India, with the milk and butter fromcow raising being included in the recipes. In Southeast Asia,coconut milk was substituted for real milk, with a very differentsubsequent taste to the curries. Noodles are popular throughoutSoutheast Asia, and reflect Chinese as well as Indian influence inthe spices and methods of preparation. In the cities and suburbanareas of Southeast Asia today, Western influences in the form offast-food restaurants are becoming more common. McDonalds, Wendy's,Shakey's Pizza, and Kentucky Fried Chicken are among the more commonfast food chains that have penetrated Southeast Asia. Side by side,one finds traditional restaurants, bistros, Indian curry shops,

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Chinese noodle and dim sum shops, and sidewalk vendors supplyinglocal cuisine.

3. Linguistic influence:

Each of the languages have been influenced by cultural pressures dueto trade, immigration, and historical colonization as well. Northeast part of the region is much influenced by Chinese language(Mandarin) while ancient colonised Indian islands are influenced byIndian language such as Tamil, Sanskrit and Bangle with Hindi mix-upInfluence in Art- Architecture, music and dances:

1. Buffalo boy plays a flute", Đông Hồ painting, Vietnam 2. TheRoyal Ballet of Cambodia 3. A Thai boy plays the khim, a traditional;

4. Hindu temple (Shrivijya period) 5. Buddhist blende 6.Angkor wat temple Thai instrumentsimilar to the yangqin from China

Most of Southeast Asian introduced dance into their court; inparticular, Cambodian royal ballet represented them in the early 7th

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century before the Khmer Empire, which was highly influenced byIndian Hinduism. The arts and literature in some of Southeast Asiais quite influenced by Hinduism brought to them centuries ago.

The Tai, coming late into Southeast Asia, brought with them someChinese artistic traditions, but they soon shed them in favour ofthe Khmer and Mon traditions, and the only indications of theirearlier contact with Chinese arts were in the style of theirtemples, especially the tapering roof, and in their lacquer ware.

Indonesia, despite conversion to Islam which opposes certain formsof art, has retained many forms of Hindu-influenced practices,culture, art and literature. An example is the Wayans (ShadowPuppet) and literature like the Ramayana. This is also true formainland Southeast Asia (excluding Vietnam). Dance movements, Hindugods, and arts were also fused into Thai, Khmer, Lao and Burmesecultures. It has been pointed out that Khmer and Indonesianclassical arts were concerned with depicting the life of the gods,but to the Southeast Asian mind the life of the gods was the life ofthe peoples themselves—joyous, earthy, yet divine.

4. Demographical influence:

Hindu population lives in its majority in Bali and among the Indianminority populations of Malaysia and Singapore. Muslim populationsoccur in Singapore, southern Thailand, and the southern Philippines.Chinese migration to Southeast Asia began well before the modernera, but major waves of migration from China occurred in the latenineteenth and early twentieth century’s, during the peak ofEuropean imperialism in the region. Earlier waves of Chinesemigrants generally blended into local populations, often adoptingthe local languages and culture. They were immigrant workers engagedin mining and plantation communities. Colonial policies hadreinforced the sojourner status and marginality of all immigrants.

5. Political Influence:S-E Asia was very much influenced in post classical era. SouthIndian kingdoms had direct ruling on it in which Chola, Chalukya

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are some famous kingdoms. But India’s influence has been decreasedgradually which has lost in the era of European colonisation. Inmodern era, which is more reliable as the Cold War ended in theearly 1990s and China's influence increased in Southeast Asia,India again realized ASEAN's importance in terms of politics,economy, and diplomacy, and consequently launched its "Look East"policy, the focus of which was how to become actively engaged inSoutheast Asian affairs in the post–Cold War era. Look East policywas implemented with the purpose of rebuilding its economicrelations with Southeast Asia. And also "Mekong-Ganges RiverCooperation Project" between India and five ASEAN member countries(Vietnam, Laos, Cambodia, Myanmar, and Thailand) was initiated topromote cooperation in tourism, culture, and education in this sub-region.In April 2005, with the strong advocacy of Singapore, Indonesia,and Thailand for India's inclusion in the East Asia Summit (EAS),the ASEAN Foreign Ministers endorsed India's participation in theEAS. This was a significant step in India's drive for strongerlinkages with East Asia as well as in ASEAN's effort to have Indiastrategically and economically engaged in the affairs of theregion, and to play a counter-weight role vis-à-vis China.

6 Influence in Defence and foreign relation policies :India’s Look East policy, which aims to foster closer ties withSoutheast Asian nations, has become one of the most importantcornerstones of its foreign policy To this end, strong advanceshave been made toward establishing closer ties with Thailand,Myanmar and Vietnam. Indian Prime Minister Manmohan Singh hasmade high-level visits to Thailand and Myanmar, and India hasincreased investment in Myanmar and Vietnam. India is alsolooking at closer defence and security ties with Vietnam, whichis not comfortable with China’s assertiveness in the SouthChina Sea dispute. Without a reasonable level of economicdevelopment and stability in India’s northeastern states, aswell as better infrastructure on its borders, India’s Look Eastpolicy cannot become a reality. Policy makers in New Delhi needto realise that in order to increase connectivity with Myanmar,Thailand and Cambodia it is important to change its approachtoward India’s northeastern states. India needs a strongerpolicy — one that focuses on greater and comprehensive

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development of the northeastern states by allowing them to bekey stakeholders in all stages of the decision-making process.In doing so, states will feel integrated with the rest of thecountry and benefit from better relations with its SoutheastAsian neighbours.China is well ahead of India on this front. Many of China’sborder provinces now act as smooth conduits linking China withits neighbouring countries. Developments in the Chineseprovince of Yunnan, which shares a border with Myanmar, are anexample of China’s move toward establishing better ties withits neighbours, via its border regions. — the centralgovernment should also boost the local economy of these statesby encouraging industrial growth and creating a strong servicesector by promoting tourism in the region. The state andcentral governments can cooperate to promote tourism andinvestment, and consider hosting large-scale investor summitsand trade fairs with a focus on attracting investors fromSoutheast Asia. A successful Look East policy will only bepossible if New Delhi invests not just economically but alsopolitically in India’s north-eastern region.

India-ASEAN bilateral Co operational influence:

Generally speaking, there exist some common views andunderstandings of the current state of international political andeconomic relations among the key players in the region, namely,China, India, and ASEAN. These three entities have similarperspectives on regional integration in one form or another.Globally, China, India, and most ASEAN countries have roughlysimilar positions on international trade negotiations, includingopposition to the inclusion of human rights and environmentalstandards in international trade agreements. They advocatenarrowing the inequities perpetrated by globalization, supportingthe democratization of international relations, the harmony ofinternational society, a just and equitable world order and a multipolar world. China, India, and ASEAN are generally committed topreventing hegemonism in Asia, regardless of whether it isinternally or externally generated. Such a convergence of strategicinterests in the first decade of the new millennium augurs well for

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trilateral cooperation in many areas including the political,economic, and security dimensions.

INDIA-ASEAN RELATIONSANALYSING REGIONAL IMPLICATIONS

“India’s Look East Policy is not merely an external economic policy, it is also a strategicshift in India’s vision of the world and India’s place in the evolving global economy.Most of all it is about reaching out to our civilisational neighbours in South East Asiaand East Asia”– Prime Minister Dr. Manmohan Singh

ASEAN was formed in 1967 and its founding fathers had envisioned anorganization which would include all the ten countries of SoutheastAsia (SEA). It began with five Southeast Asian states (Indonesia,Malaysia, the Philippines, Singapore and Thailand); and othersincluding the LMCV countries (Laos, Myanmar, Cambodia and Vietnam)joined later. An eleventh country, East Timor, is yet to be grantedmembership. The SEA countries are diverse and at varying stages ofdevelopment- with Singapore at the forefront and Myanmar still aleast developed country (LDC). The emergence of India from a gloomyto a glowing position in the global arena, coupled with a number ofvirtues like enormous size, huge population, convenient geostrategiclocation, progressive military might, meteoric economic growthinspired various states including South-East Asian nations to devisecollaborative ties with India.

India-ASEAN relations are a reflection of the complementariness ofinterests between the two entities. As India chooses to embark on abenign projection of its rising power, it has become imperative tochart a foreign policy commensurate with its ambitions in Asia andthe world. For India’s power to be accepted in the Asian Continent,it needs to look beyond its immediate neighbours in the sub-Continent, and diversify and cement its relations mainly with theSouth-East Asian nations, the very essence of its Look East Policyand its continuing effort to sustain and improve ties with aregional body like ASEAN1. This paper will discuss the India-ASEANcooperation in various fields, the on-going efforts and will alsotry to explore the Historical Overview, Bilateral-DialogueRelations, Political and Security Issues, various possibilities andStrategic Implications of cooperation including defence cooperationand convergence of interest of both the region in 21st century.

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India- ASEAN Relations after the end of Cold War

The end of the cold war marked a turning point in India’s relationswith ASEAN. The 1990s saw the rise of regionalism in Southeast Asia.In the aftermath of the economic crisis of the late 1990s, there hasbeen a heightened emphasis on regional economic integration with theconsequent proliferation of various Free Trade Agreements (FTAs)involving ASEAN and other countries in the region.With risingeconomic growth and its emergence as an influential player in theregion, India too has adopted a similar policy of establishingcloser economic and strategic engagements with ASEAN

1 RISE OF REGIONALISM IN SOUTH-EAST ASIA

ASEAN, established in August 1967, has for long, been the onlyofficial organization that pursued regional economic integration inEast Asia. It is responsible for several economic integrationinitiatives in East Asia including the ASEAN Free Trade Agreement(AFTA), the ASEAN Framework Agreement on Services (AFAS) and theASEAN Investment Area (AIA). As part of the ASEAN vision 2020, itaims to establish an ASEAN Security Community, ASEAN EconomicCommunity, and ASEAN Socio-Cultural Community by 2020.

Most of these initiatives came about in the late 1990s as part ofthe shift in ASEAN’s policies towards regionalism. This changeplayed out in the form of several regional and bilateral tradeagreements. While the agreements were largely between ASEANeconomies, many also included South Asian countries like Bangladesh,India, Myanmar,Nepal, Bhutan, and Sri Lanka. There were alsosignificant agreements between ASEAN and the other major East Asianeconomies. First, the East Asian financial crisis highlighted the need foreffective prevention, management, and resolution of financial crisesand contagion.

Second, with the growing integration of both trade and FDI in theregion there has been a growing need for a formal institutionalframework for facilitation of trade and investment, harmonizationof Rules, standards and procedures and dispute settlement. Thedeepening financial and macroeconomic interdependence has also givenrise to the need to resolve the problem of “collective action”by internalizing externalities and spill over effects that arise

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from interdependence. This framework is the basis of the East AsiaSummit which is considered the first step towards building an EastAsian Community. The first East Asia Summit was held in KualaLumpur on 14 December 2005 and included, in addition to all tenASEAN countries, Japan, China, South Korea, India, Australia, andNew Zealand. The summit marked the formal inclusion of non-SoutheastAsian countries like India, Australia, and New Zealand into theregional architecture of Southeast Asia. The East Asia Summit hasconsequently come to be known as ASEAN+6.

II INDIA’S ATTENTION ON REGIONALISM

India’s new growth story is the direct result of the consciouschange in its economic policy after its macro-economic crisis in1991. In keeping with its reformed approach and the rise inbilateral and regional trading agreements around the world, Indiatoo embarked on establishing trade and investment linkages with anumber of countries in Asia. The motivations for these deals havebeen economic as well strategic in nature. It has established tradeagreements within SAARC, ASEAN and with individual countries in EastAsia. It has developed partnerships with Latin American and MiddleEastern countries with its agreements with the Mercosurgrouping,Egypt and Chile.

China’s dominance in Southeast Asia became a great cause of concernfor India. China has provided military support to all of India’sneighbours and significant assistance to Pakistan for its nuclearprogram. This has been a serious destabilizing factor for India.Further, China’s rising presence in Southeast Asia has posed serioussecurity concerns for India. A country in control of the Indo-Chinaregion would threaten India’s security, as many Southeast Asianstates have adjoining borders with India. As a consequence, Indiahas attempted to improve its interaction with Southeast Asia byrebuilding its long lost ties with ASEAN.

Table 1: India’s Exports to East Asia, 2001-02 to 2006-07 :( Values in US$ million )

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2001-02 2002-03 2003-04 2004-05 2005-06 2006-07

CHINAPRP

951.95 1975.48 2955.08 5615.88 6759.10 8287.48

JAPAN 1510.44 1864.03 1709.29 2127.91 2481.26 2860.47

KOREA RP 471.37 644.85 764.86 1041.68 1827.21 2512.76

ASEAN 3457.02 4618.54 5821.71 8425.89 10411.30 12603.86

Source: Directorate General of Foreign Trade, India

Table 2: India’s Imports from East Asia, 2001-02 to 2006-07Values in US$ million

2001-02 2002-03 2003-04 2004-05 2005-06 2006-07

CHINAPRP

2036.39 2792.04 4053.21 7097.98 10868.05 17447.01

JAPAN 2146.44 1836.33 2667.68 3235.13 4061.10 4592.01

KOREA RP 1141.37 1522.01 2829.17 3508.77 4563.85 4802.26

ASEAN 43872.22 5150.17 7433.11 9114.66 10883.68 18089.64

Source: Directorate General of Foreign Trade, India

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Source: Directorate General of Foreign Trade, Indi

III ASEAN’ S INTERESTS IN INDIA

With substantial growth in the last decade, India has emerged asone of the largest economies not just in Asia, but the entire world.With the third largest GDP and growth rate of 7-8 per cent, India ispoised to emerge as a large economic power in the years to come.With a rising middle class and an economy on an upward trajectory,India has large economic potential and provides ample opportunitiesfor economies in the region to link up with its economic resurgence.ASEAN has certainly taken note of this fact and is aware that it isin its best interest to include India in a regional framework andthereby, capitalize on its emerging strength. One of the objectivesof the Framework Agreement on Comprehensive Economic Cooperationsigned between ASEAN and India is to “facilitate the more effectiveeconomic integration of the new ASEAN member states and the bridgingof development gap among the parties. ASEAN and India also sharecommon interests with regard to regional peace and security. Sincethe 11 September 2001 attacks on the United States, terrorism has

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become a new threat to global and regional security. Both ASEAN andIndia are faced with grave vulnerabilities with regard to terrorismand it is in their common interest to work together to build peaceand security in the region. One of the considerations ASEAN tookinto account while according bigger status to India was definitelythe issue of China’s rising power profile and especially its navalincursions into the South China Sea as also China’s expandingacceptance worldwide Conversely, there have also been apprehensionswithin ASEAN regarding India’s Navy and nuclear capabilities asIndia itself possesses the ability to yield substantial influenceand power in the region. “But India's willingness to accede to theTreaty of Amity and Cooperation in Southeast Asia and itsendorsement of the Southeast Asia Nuclear Weapons Free Zone(SEANWFZ) has gone a long way in assuring the region of India'sintent. The ASEAN looks at India's security needs more as a factoremanating from the compulsions of the geopolitical position thatIndia holds, rather than being a derivative of any hegemonic designson India's part. Since the collapse of the Soviet Union, India haspursued a Look East Policy and worked towards integrating with EastAsia. Complimenting the rising trade integration with broaderintegration measures will only consolidate the existing links andcompound the potential benefits for all countries involved. In thelast decade, India has successfully developed its software andservices sector. Along with East Asian specialization inmanufactures, India’s strength in services could result in aformidable strategic combination. With the realization of suchpotential, India is increasingly getting linked with existing EastAsian production networks.

INDIA’S FOCUS ON ASEAN

India-ASEAN relations stepped up a notch towards the end of 1990sand the beginning of 2000. In 1998, the then Indian Prime Minister,Mr. Atal Bihari Vajpayee intended to accelerate India’s Look EastPolicy. “The concept of ‘extended neighbourhood’ was popularized byIndian leaders such as I.K. Gujral and Jaswant Singh. India islooking to develop associations with countries beyond its immediateneighbourhood, perceiving countries in East and Northeast Asia asits far eastern neighbours and the ASEAN countries as its neareastern neighbours. One of the first concrete steps taken by Indiawas the setting up of the Mekong-Ganga Cooperation Project in 2000which includes India and the five ASEAN countries (including the

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four newer ASEAN members – Vietnam, Lao, Cambodia, Myanmar andThailand). India was aware that economic cooperation with ASEANwould depend on how fast the new ASEAN countries could catch up withthe rest of ASEAN and intended to provide them with economic andtechnical assistance. The institutionalization of ASEAN-Indiarelations came with the First ASEAN-India Summit in Pnhom Penh on 5November 2002 and was perceived as the success of India’s Look EastPolicy. It was considered an acknowledgement of India’s emergence asa key player in the Asia Pacific Region. The first Association ofSoutheast Asian Nations-India Summit held in hnom Penh, Cambodia,sets the stage for India to move purposefully ahead in developing abroad strategic partnership with the countries of Southeast Asia. In2002, the then Indian Prime Minister, Mr. Atal Bihari Vajpayeestated, “[The Southeast Asian] region is one of the focal points ofIndia’s foreign policy, strategic concerns and economic interestsWith Myanmar being included in ASEAN, India now shares a landboundary with ASEAN, apart from sharing maritime frontiers withIndonesia and Thailand and its exclusive economic zone (EEZ) withMalaysia. India considers ASEAN to be the nucleus of the East Asianregion and believes in laying emphasis on its interaction withASEAN. The increasing importance of maritime trade and energysecurity for India has made it imperative to ensure the safety ofSea Lanes of Communication (SLOC’s) in Southeast Asia. Maritimepiracy has large implications for security in the economic sphereand in the Malacca Straits, is a common threat to India and theASEAN region. With India being dependent on sea ways for over 97 percent of it’s global trade, the safety of sea lanes around the ASEANregion is of vital importance to India. India understands that aprosperous and stable ASEAN that safeguards vital sea lanes betweenthe Indian and Pacific Oceans will serve its best interests.

Coordination between India and ASEAN in safeguarding their sharedmarine environment and its resources, promoting the safety andsecurity of navigation in their common ocean areas, and ensuringlegitimate, peaceful and sustainable uses of the oceans, cancontribute to both maritime development and maritime security in theregion.

Advantages of the India’s Look East Policy

Look east policy has helped India in strengthening its place in theglobal economy and gets a better deal in its interactions outside

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the region. America and European countries had entered into a lot ofdifferent mutual agreement which has further increased theirreputation and bargaining power. India was in danger of isolation inthe global economy. India was not getting its due importance. Butdue to its Look east policy India economy is getting integrated withthe Asian economy, so India gets support from Asian countries whichhave increased India’s importance at global level.

East Asia’s Strengths                                             India’s Strengths1) Electronic equipment                                               Computer Software2) Heavy engineering                                                    Engineering and pharmaceuticals3) Product development and marketing                   Processdevelopment4) Underutilized capacity in construction                Huge potential demand

Look east policy has helped India in strengthening its place in theglobal economy and gets a better deal in its interactions outsidethe region. America and European countries had entered into a lot ofdifferent mutual agreement which has further increased theirreputation and bargaining power. India was in danger of isolation inthe global economy. India was not getting its due importance. Butdue to its Look east policy India economy is getting integrated withthe Asian economy, so India gets support from Asian countries whichhave increased India’s importance at global level.

Short Comings in the India’s Look East Policy

India still remains outside the Asia Pacific Economic Cooperation(APEC) forum

India has entered into a number of pacts, agreements and FTAs withnations of ASEAN but its record for implementation of such accordshas been poor. The Indian industry has doubts about its owncompetitive efficiency or it does not want competition at home orit is scared of cheaper exports to India from these countries.

India lags behind China and Japan in almost all spheres of PanEast Asian cooperation, East Asian observers reckon that India hasso far appeared less proactive than China on some critical issues.

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Some analysts feel that India’s Look East Policy lacks a strategicvision despite seeking defense cooperation with some ASEAN nations(Myanmar, Indonesia and Vietnam) and securing a role for jointpatrolling in the Malacca Straits.  India does not take anassertive role perhaps due to it limited military capability

There are some domestic political compulsions which impinge on thedesired reforms and the struggle the liberalization process isundergoing in the “minds of our people”. India has come underharsh criticism for the big negative items list and the delay ofover six years in finalizing the ASEAN-India FTA.

India should go ahead with proper implementation of the pacts,agreements and FTAs without bothering about the aforementionedfactors. The Indian industry will ensure that India will always gainfrom these arrangements.

The Look East policy did not find Japan on its radar and failed toimprove India’s economic ties with it. Trade with Japan actuallydeclined dramatically dropping its share to one-third of its levelof 7 per cent in 1993. One of the causes, of course, was the factthat the Japanese economy was stagnate during this period. But stillit is difficult to explain the reason behind this dramatic drop.This was the biggest failure of Look east policy. Failure to involveJapan and a build economic relationship with it also resulted inclosing the doors on Japanese foreign direct investment (FDI). Butnow the situation is getting better and trade with Japan isincreasing. During 1993-2003, Japan’s global FDI averaged at $ 50billion a year, of which India received $ 220 million a year or lessthan one-fourth of 1 per cent! Even at the regional level, Indiareceived just 2 per cent of Japanese FDI. (China’s share was 10times higher at 22 per cent).

Improving Border Infrastructure

The lack of proper cross-border transit points and integratedtransport networks has posed major challenges. To facilitate growthof border trade the Union Minister of Commerce has introduced anExport Development Fund (EDF) for the Northeast traders andentrepreneurs. There is no provision to track where and how these

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funds are utilized. International trade centres at the border pointsand connecting these points through the existing roads to statecapitals is vital, as is coordination in banking operations, such asextending banking services and ATM booths, telecommunication networkat the border points to improve trade activities.

Maintaining and monitoring the functioning of the major borderpoints such as Moreh, Tamu and Tiddim (in Manipur) and Champhai (inMizoram) should be the priority. Till date only the 160 km Tamu-Kalaywa-Kalemyo Road connecting Moreh to Myanmar has beenaccomplished.

ConclusionEach ASEAN nation has its own characteristics – some are supportiveof India, some are predominantly Muslim, some are economically moredeveloped then India, some are underdeveloped and one is a closeneighbor influencing the security of India. In S-E Asia, in thisway, external influences have been stronger than internalinfluences. China brought civilisation and technology while Indiabrought religion (Hinduism and Buddhism). Religious missionariesand trade contacts of India brought much Indian influence to theregion in late classical era. In European colonising age, thisinfluence was disturbed a lot and thus S-E Asia has been highlyinfluenced by European countries. But in present, it is an era ofglobalisation which has influenced the whole S-E Asia throughdifferent ways as cultural, economical and political interactions.Because high chunk of population has became the S-E Asia a globalconsumer markets. In present days, Where India’s “Look east policy”should have influence on S-E Asia and there China’s ambition ofbecoming a great global power (economic and political level) wouldbe more dominating influencing country . Hence India should tailorthe bilateral relations with every country in different way to suitthe requirements of that particular country and that of India. ASEANand EAS hold great promise for India. Indian policy-makers shouldcreate such a scenario where India’s arrival as a major power in theinternational system should not be seen as a liability but as anasset by the ASEAN countries. In recognizing India’s stature inregional Asian and international politics, these countries should

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see a reflection of their rising opportunities for their owncountries in an inclusive, healthy and peaceful Asian order. To makethem realize their own success in the success of India would indeedbe the litmus test for present and future Indian policy-makers.India’s objectives in Look East Policy can be furthered throughareas—education (human resources development), democracy andculture—where it has a comparative advantage over Asian countries.In this context the Nalanda project which envisages the setting upof an international university is noteworthy. ASEAN sees India as anemerging power in Asia and is keen to develop relations with it thatwould be beneficial to countries within ASEAN and to the regionas a whole. It realizes that India possesses large strategiccapabilities and can be a strong stabilizing force in the region.India understands that the ASEAN grouping consists of countrieswhich have achieved significant development in the past 20 years. Itis in its interest to establish beneficial linkages with thecountries to benefit from their past experience and currentstanding. There is large potential in the synergies between itseconomy and that of the ASEAN countries and is keen to strengthenits economic ties with them. ASEAN’s strategic location makes itsstability crucial for India’s energy and economic security, and itlooks to develop its influence in the region by forging vital tieswith ASEAN.

The ASEAN-India partnership holds ample potential for a successfulfuture. As things stand, it is evident that both India and ASEANare keen to establish a strong relationship with a long-termemphasis on greater cooperation and integration, apart from thestrengthening of economic and strategic ties. While there aredefinite challenges to be addressed before achieving a consolidatedEast Asian Community, it is evident that conscious efforts are beingmade on both the sides in developing synergies for the sharedprosperity and mutual benefit of India, ASEAN and the Asian regionat large.

REFRENCES AND BIBLIOGRAPHY:

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1. Mohan C. Raja, “Emerging Geopolitical Trends and Security inthe Association of Southeast Asian Nations, the People’sRepublic of China, and India (ACI) Region”

2. Hirschman Charles and Bonaparte Sabrina ‘POPULATION AND SOCIETYIN SOUTHEAST ASIA: A HISTORICAL PERSPECTIVE’

3. Faxian, Xuanzang, and Yijing, “The Travel Records of ChinesePilgrims” by The FAO Journals

4. Mishra P. P., “India-Southeast Asian Relations: An Overview”

5. Roman Brent and Russell Susan, “SOUTHEAST ASIAN FOOD AND

CULTURE”.

6. Naidu, G. V. C. “Looking East: India and Southeast Asia”

7. S. D. Muni and C. Raja Mohan, ‘Emerging Asia; India’s Options’,

International Studies, Volume 31 Number 4, Sage Publications,

2004, pp 319-321.

8. Kripa Sridharan “ The ASEAN Region in India’s ‘Look East’

Policy” in India and ASEAN; Foreign Policy Dimensions For the

21st Century, K. Raja Reddy (ed.), New Centuries Publications

2005, Part I, Chapter 7, p 130

9. 9. A.N Ram, ‘India’s Foreign Policy in the Asia-Pacific:

Contemporary Issues, Area Studies: A Journal of International

Studies and Analyses, Volume 1, Number 1, January 2001, p.23.

10. 10. Looking East: India and Southeast Asia, G. V. C. Naidu

,Research Fellow, Institute for Defence Studies and Analyses,

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India. Revised version of the paper presented at the Institute

of International Relations (IIR)- Institute for Defence Studies

and Analyses (IDSA) Second Roundtable Conference, October 27-

28, 2004, Taipei, Taiwan.

ARTICLES & INTER-Net

1. India-ASEAN Future: Crucial For ASIA Growth, By MonishTourangbam, Research Scholar, School of International Studies (JNU)accessed electronically at http://www.sarkaritel.com/news_and_features/infa/march2011/14india_asean_future.htm

2. Indo-ASEAN Relations on the Upswing.http://www.merinews.com/article/indo-asean-relations-on-the-upswing/127680.html

3. Reinforcing ‘Look East’ Policy {An article by Minister of Statefor External Affairs Mr. E.Ahamed},TheMEAwebsite,accessedelectronically,http://www.meaindia.nic.in/interview/2006/01/17in01.htm

4. India’s Look East Policy: Prospects and Challenges for NortheastIndia-3, accessed electronically athttp://haokip.bandamp.com/blog/17831.html

5. Julien Levesque, North-East in India’s Look East Policy,Institute of Peace and Conflict Studies, NewDelhi,May6,2008,accessedat http://www.ipcs.org /article_details.php?articleNo=2558$cID=9 6.Ibid.17. .6. accessed electronically at http://exim.indiamart.com /free-trade-agreement/asean-india.html

7. ASEAN-INDIA DIALOGUE RELATIONS. As of March 2011, Accesed fromthe official website ASEAN at http://www.asean.org /5738.html

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8. accessed electronically at http://exim.indiamart.com /free-trade-agreement/asean-india.html

9. India’s Look East Policy - A Review, By C. S. Kuppuswamy  Paperno. 3662. http://www.southasiaanalysis.org/papers37/paper3662.html

10. The South China Sea Disputes: Why conflict is not Inevitable.Rukmani Gupta, IDSACOMMENT.October17,2011,http://idsa.in/idsacomments/TheSouthChinaSeaDisputesWhyConflictisnotInevitable_rgupta_171011 16. Linking India’sNorthEastwith SouthEast Asia: Significance of Internal Connectivity& Backward Integration.  Panchali Saikia http://www.ipcs.org/issue-brief/india/linking-indias-northeast-with-southeast-asia-significance-of-internal-connectivity-175.html IB175-SEARP-Panchali.pdf

11. Manmohan Singh In SouthEast Asia. Panchali Saikia, ResearchOfficer, IPCS SouthEast Asia – Articles #3267, 27 October 2010.http://www.ipcs.org /article/southeast-asia/manmohan-singh-in-southeast-asia-3267.html.

12. India ASEAN Free Trade Agreement A Deloitte-FICCI White Paper,March 2011 http://www.deloitte.com/view/en_IN/in/index.htm

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