Significance of Indo-Pacific | 29 Sep 2023

Source: TH 

Why in News? 

The General Secretary of the Communist Party of Vietnam and the U.S. President met in Vietnam during the visit of the US President, marking a new phase in the bilateral relationship between the two countries. 

• Both nations elevated their cooperation to a Comprehensive Strategic Partnership from a Comprehensive Partnership forged in 2013. 

What is the Indo-Pacific? 

• About: 
  • Indo-Pacific is a recent concept. It was about a decade ago that the world started talking about the Indo-Pacific; its rise has been quite significant. 
  • One of the reasons behind the popularity of this term is an understanding that the Indian and the Pacific Oceans are a linked strategic theater. 
  • Each and every nation perceives the concept of the Indo-Pacific with its own benefits and concerns and there are no absolute concepts and geographical boundaries of the Indo-Pacific. 
• Present Context: 
  • The Indo-Pacific region is one of the most populous and economically active regions of the world which includes four continents: Asia, Africa, Australia and America. 
  • The dynamism and vitality of the region are self-evident, 60% of the world's population and 2/3rd of the global economic output makes this region a global economic center. 
• India’s Perspective of the Indo-Pacific: 
  • Cooperate with Others for Security Architecture: A lot of India’s special partners, the US, Australia, Japan and Indonesia want India’s presence in the South China Sea, and East China Sea, basically to counter China. 
    • India, however, seeks to cooperate for an architecture for peace and security in the region. The common prosperity and security require the countries to evolve, through dialogue, a common rules-based order for the region. 
  • Equal Share in Trade and Investment: India supports a rule-based, open, balanced and stable trade environment in the Indo-Pacific Region, which lifts up all nations on the tide of trade and investment.  
    • This is the same as what the country expects from the Regional Comprehensive Economic Partnership (RCEP). 
• Importance of Indo-Pacific for ASEAN countries Like Vietnam: 
  • Unified ASEAN: Unlike China, India seeks a unified ASEAN, not a divided one. China tries to play off some ASEAN members against others, thereby in a way executing a ‘divide and rule’ conquest strategy. 
  • Work in Collaboration with China: ASEAN does not comply with the US version of Indo-Pacific, which seeks to contain Chinese dominance. ASEAN is rather looking for ways through which it can work together with China. 

What is the Significance of the Indo-Pacific? 

• Indo-Pacific Extends from Africa to America:  
  • For America, Indo-Pacific stands for a free, open, inclusive region. It includes all nations in the geography and also others who have a stake in it.  
  • In its geographical dimension, the US considers the area from the shores of Africa to the shores of the US. 
• Against Dominance of a Single Player:  
  • India is looking to democratise the region. Earlier, the region used to be almost like an American lake. However, there exists a fear that the region will become a Chinese lake. The US, like India, doesn't want the hegemony of any player in the region.  
• Geopolitical Importance: 
  • The Indo-Pacific region is home to some of the world's most populous and economically dynamic countries, including India, China, Japan, Australia, and Indonesia.  
    • This concentration of economic and political power makes it a critical center of global geopolitics. 
• Economic Significance: 
  • The region is a major driver of the global economy. It contains key maritime trade routes, such as the Strait of Malacca, through which a significant portion of the world's trade flows.  
    • Many of the world's busiest and most important ports are located in the Indo-Pacific, facilitating trade between Asia, Europe, and Africa. 
• Security and Strategic Concerns: 
  • The Indo-Pacific is a region of increasing strategic competition among major powers, notably the United States, China, India, and Russia. The presence of nuclear-armed states and unresolved territorial disputes, such as the South China Sea disputes, add to its strategic complexity. 
• Balancing China's Rise: 
  • The rise of China as a global economic and military power is a central factor in the Indo-Pacific's significance.  
  • Many countries in the region are seeking to balance China's influence and ensure their own security by strengthening alliances and partnerships with like-minded nations. 
• Maritime Security: 
  • Ensuring the security of maritime trade routes is a major concern for countries in the Indo-Pacific.  
  • Issues such as piracy, territorial disputes, and the need to protect sea lanes make maritime security a top priority. 
• Regional Organizations and Forums: 
  • Various regional organizations and forums, such as ASEAN, QUAD, and the Indian Ocean Rim Association (IORA), are actively engaged in addressing regional issues, promoting economic cooperation, and enhancing security. 
• Connectivity and Infrastructure Development: 
  • There is a growing focus on infrastructure development, connectivity projects, and economic integration in the Indo-Pacific.  
  • Initiatives like China's Belt and Road Initiative (BRI) and the U.S. "Free and Open Indo-Pacific" strategy aim to shape the economic and political landscape of the region. 
• Environmental and Ecological Significance: 
  • The Indo-Pacific is home to diverse ecosystems, including coral reefs and marine biodiversity.  
  • Climate change and environmental issues, such as plastic pollution and overfishing, are of global concern, as they affect not only the region's nations but also the entire planet.