Firm up Act East Policy for Post-Covid Gains

Context: India needs to support ASEAN’s centrality in its enterprise of multilateralism in the Indo-Pacific along with ensuring closer security convergence with the countries of East and Southeast.

Challenges faced by East and South East Asian countries:

• Impact of COVID-19: Being in the neighbourhood of China, Southeast Asian countries were hit by Covid-19 very early. 
• Expansionist approach by China: China’s several expansionist manoeuvres resulted in a sharp response from affected Asian countries. 

• ASEAN leaders recently calling for strict adherence to the United Nations Convention on the Law of the Sea (UNCLOS) marks a shift in ASEAN’s stand.
• Japan has declared to shift its industrial investments from China.
• Australia has announced a massive defense outlays over the next decade to strengthen its defences.
• The US is also thinking to redeploy its forces from Europe to Asia to counter the Chinese threat in India, the Philippines, Indonesia, Malaysia etc.

• Maritime security:  India can position itself to extend support to the region. The project of creating a full-fledged base on the Andaman and Nicobar Islands helps in securing the Malacca chokepoint.
• Prioritising financial aspects: With regard to India’s development cooperation with the countries of the Indo-Pacific in the post-Covid period.
• Connectivity projects: The trilateral highway between India, Myanmar and Thailand, and the Kaladan multimodal transport project, need to be completed soon. 

• These are also of crucial importance to Northeast India.

• Trade and Investment: India will have to redouble its efforts with the countries of East and Southeast Asia to promote trade and investment.
• Focussing on existing comprehensive economic cooperation agreements with countries of the region. 

• They also provide networks of supply chains that Indian businessmen can avail.

• Collaboration in pharmaceutical and vaccine research: an important area in India’s Act East policy.
• Security convergence: India and the countries of the East need to draw closer towards a security convergence which would be a forward step for India’s Act East policy.