India’s Engagement at ASEAN Meet

• 03 Aug 2024

Source: IE

Why in News?

Recently, India's External Affairs Minister's (EAM) visit to Vientiane, Laos, for the Association of Southeast Asian Nations (ASEAN) meetings has garnered significant attention. This visit has provided a platform for high-level dialogues with several global leaders, aiming to strengthen bilateral relations.

What are the Key Highlights of the ASEAN Meet?

• ASEAN in India’s Foreign Policy: EAM emphasised ASEAN as the cornerstone of India's Act East Policy and Indo-Pacific vision.
  • 2024 marks 10 years since India’s Act East Policy was announced at the 9th East Asia Summit in 2014.
  • The policy aims to enhance commerce, connectivity, and capacity building. strategic, and cultural relations with the Asia-Pacific region.
    • India views the ASEAN partnership as crucial for its political, economic, and security cooperation.
  • Highlighted India's vision for the Indo-Pacific in promoting a free, open, inclusive, and peaceful region based on a rules-based international order.
• Focus Areas: Discussions involved expanding people-to-people linkages and bilateral cooperation.
  • The visit aims to solidify partnerships and advance mutual interests in the region.

What is the Association of Southeast Asian Nations (ASEAN) ?

• About: The ASEAN is a regional intergovernmental organization founded on 8th August 1967, in Bangkok, Thailand.
  • Creation was formalised through the ASEAN Declaration
  • Initially signed by Indonesia, Malaysia, the Philippines, Singapore, and Thailand.
    • ASEAN was expanded to include Brunei Darussalam (1984), Vietnam (1995), Laos PDR and Myanmar (1997), and Cambodia (1999).
  • The region has one of the largest economies in the world; believed to have the 4th-largest economy in the world by 2050.
  • The bloc’s biggest success in recent years has been promoting economic integration among members. It also helped negotiate the Regional Comprehensive Economic Partnership, the world’s largest free trade agreement.
• ASEAN Charter (2008): Provided ASEAN with a legal status and institutional framework. It codified norms, rules, and values, enhancing accountability and compliance.
• ASEAN Summit: The highest policy-making body, comprising the Heads of State or Government of ASEAN member states, meets twice annually.
  • The first summit was held in Bali, Indonesia, in 1976.
• India-ASEAN Relations:
  • India began formal engagement with ASEAN in 1992 as a "Sectoral Dialogue Partner" and subsequently as a "Dialogue Partner" in 1995.
    • Partnership elevated to a Strategic Partnership in 2012 and a Comprehensive Strategic Partnership in 2022.

Indo-Pacific Region

• The Indo-Pacific region is a vast geographic area encompassing the Indian and western/central Pacific Oceans, home to diverse cultures and ecosystems.
• It has geopolitical importance, with major powers like China, India, Japan, and the US, and accounts for more than half the world’s population, and it accounts for 60% of global GDP as well as 2/3rd of global economic growth.
  • However, it faces security challenges like territorial disputes, piracy, terrorism, and nuclear proliferation, as well as environmental concerns.
  • China's rapid growth has contributed to the region's increasing global significance.
• Indian vision for Indo-Pacific: India advocates a "free, open and inclusive Indo-Pacific" and calls for peaceful resolution of disputes while respecting sovereignty and territorial integrity of all nations.

UPSC Civil Services Examination, Previous Year Questions (PYQs)

Prelims

Q2. Consider the following countries: (2018)

1. Australia
2. Canada
3. China
4. India
5. Japan
6. USA

Which of the above are among the ‘free-trade partners’ of ASEAN?

(a) 1, 2, 4 and 5
(b) 3, 4, 5 and 6
(c) 1, 3, 4 and 5
(d) 2, 3, 4 and 6

Ans: (c)

Q1. India is a member of which among the following? (2015)

1. Asia-Pacific Economic Cooperation
2. Association of South-East Asian Nations
3. East Asia Summit

Select the correct answer using the code given below:

(a) 1 and 2 only
(b) 3 only
(c) 1, 2 and 3
(d) India is a member of none of them

Ans: (b)

Q. The term ‘Regional Comprehensive Economic Partnership’ often appears in the news in the context of the affairs of a group of countries known as (2016)

(a) G20
(b) ASEAN
(c) SCO
(d) SAARC

Ans: (b)