Summitry In The East And India’s Asean Ambitions

Context: Global leaders convened for the annual ASEAN and East Asia Summits, chaired by Brunei.

Transforming Geopolitics of ASEAN

• US reaching out: After four years of inactivity under President Donald Trump, Mr Biden promised that ASEAN nations could expect to see US showing up and reaching out to you.
  • Announced $100-million initiative to boost America’s presence through investments in healthcare.
  • Singled out China’s actions in Taiwan for criticism and termed them “coercive” and a threat to regional stability.
• Australia also showed up: Announced $93-million economic package that would fund action on climate change, Covid-19 relief, transnational crime and terrorism.
  • Reassuring jittery powers in the region that the recently concluded Aukus nuclear submarine pact was not a threat to stability. However, ASEAN remains split down the middle.
  • Indonesia and Malaysia have expressed concern at the prospect of an evolving arms race in the region.
  • Singapore, Vietnam and the Philippines are more positive to Aukus.
• India’s positive role in the region: India’s contribution to the region’s Covid-19 mitigation efforts.
  • Its resumption of vaccine exports and support for connectivity projects were singled out.
  • $1 billion line of credit for physical and digital connectivity projects to assist with ASEAN’s push to make Southeast Asia one of the world’s most connected and networked regions.
  • PhD fellowships in IITs to ASEAN students.
• China’s counter support: Announced a $3.1million programme to purchase medical relief supplies for ASEAN nations. Seek a special summit with Southeast Asian nations in November that would upgrade China - ASEAN ties to a comprehensive strategic partnership.

Way Forward

• Ensure cooperation of QUAD: India will find that its influence and interests in ASEAN be best served through cooperation with its partners in the Quad, supporyting
• ASEAN’s ambitions to build a sustainable blue water economy.
• Digital connectivity goals of ASEAN: Bringing its people online, tensions between a more open model of digital governance championed by the Quad.
• Help develop technical standards and digital infrastructure in Southeast Asia to their advantage.
• ASEAN’s desire to fund science and technology innovation, build sustainably financed infrastructure and mitigate the impact of climate change line up with the policy goals the Quad set for itself during its September summit.