LECTURE-6
INDIA AND THE INDO-PACIFIC
Contents
1. India and Japan 111
1.1. Background 111
1.1.1. New Era of Relationships 112
1.2. Economy 112
1.2.1. Bilateral Assistance and Investment 112
1.3. Technology Cooperation 113
1.4. The Geo-Strategic Dimension 113
1.4.1. The Island Dispute with China 114
1.5. Expanding Scope 114
1.6. Issues to Address 115
2. India and South Korea 115
2.1. Background 115
2.1.1. New Era of Relationships 116
2.2. Economy 116
2.3. Cultural Ties 116
3. India-Australia 117
3.1. Background 117
3.2 India-Australia: Institutional Mechanisms 117
3.3 India-Australia: Recent Ties 118
3.4 India-Australia: Political Cooperation 118
3.5 Economic and Trade Relations 118
3.6 Civil Nuclear Cooperation 119
4. India and the Pacific Island Countries 119
4.1. Pacific Ocean and Island Countries 119
4.2. India and the Pacific Island Countries 119
4.2.1. India and Pacific Island Countries: FIPIC 120
4.3 The Concept of Indo-Pacific 120
1. India and JapanMap 6.1-Japan♤ Today, India is the largest democracy in Asia and Japan the most prosperous.♤ A Comprehensive Economic Partnership Agreement (CEPA) between Japan and India was concluded in 2011.complementarities that exist between the two Asian economies.♤ The CEPA envisages abolition of tariffs over 94% of items traded between India and Japan over a period of 10 years.♤ Japan has been extending bilateral loan and grant assistance to India since 1958, and is the largest bilateral donor for India.♤ FDI flows from Japan have almost tripled in last three years (2014-2017).1.4. The Geo-Strategic Dimension1.4.1. The Island Dispute with China1.5. Expanding Scopeo a new trilateral at the foreign secretary level has been initiated with Australia as the third country.1.6. Issues to Address2. India and South KoreaMap 6.3-South Korea♤ Consistent Indian support for peaceful reunification of the two Koreas has been well received in this country.♤ In 2010, the bilateral ties were raised to the level of Strategic Partnership.♤ Shipbuilding, automobile, electronics, textiles, food processing and manufacture being sectors of particular interest.♤ India and South Korea launched an initiative ‘Korea Plus’, in June 2016 in India to promote♤ In 2017 the two countries also signed agreements to establish $9 billion in concessional credit and $1 billion in Official Development Assistance (ODA) funding for infrastructure development projects in India.3. India-AustraliaMap 6.4: Australia♤ With the changing global scenario, Australia has come to look at India as a potential partner in promoting regional security and stability.♤ The India-Australia Dialogue on East Asia is also held at senior official level.3.4 India-Australia: Political Cooperation♤ Australia supports India’s candidature in an expanded UN Security Council.♤ Australia is an important player in Asia-Pacific Economic Cooperation (APEC) and3.6 Civil Nuclear Cooperation♤ A Civil Nuclear Cooperation Agreement between the two countries was signed in September 2014 during the visit of then PM Tony Abbott to India.4. India and the Pacific Island Countries4.1. Pacific Ocean and Island Countries♤ It is rich in marine resources and accounts for 71 per cent of the world's ocean fishery catch.4.2. India and the Pacific Island Countries♤ In 2016, the state visit by President Pranab Mukherjee to Papua New Guinea (PNG) andJaipur on 21-22 August 2015.♤ Transport, communications, renewable energy, health services, fisheries (“blue”o 'space cooperation' in space technology applications for improving the quality of life of the islands,4.3 The Concept of Indo-Pacific♤ The emergence of the Indo-Pacific as a new geopolitical frame of reference is embedded in the growing strategic importance of the maritime domain and the rise of states that have demonstrated the ability to ‘transcend’ their respective sub-regions.♤ In this context apart from the Quad, the ASEAN and institutions centred around it can play a key role in evolving an economic, security and political architecture in the Indo- Pacific.♤ India is not a member of the APEC. Given its significance in the emerging architecture of the Indo-Pacific India’s membership in the forum dominated by China can be a positive step.
