Project Report
The report presents a detailed inquiry into the multidimensional aspects of India’s relationship with the Southeast Asia region that encompass cultural, historical, political, economic and strategic ties. Historically, and before the establishment of contemporary nation-states, Southeast Asia and India shared strong cultural and commercial ties that go back to the first century. The trade led to extensive cultural and philosophical ties, which have had an impact on society and language up to the current day.
Today, the region represents a major economic and strategic landscape of the world with enormous diversity in language, traditions, culture, political systems and ethnicity. However, in spite of the huge economic and strategic opportunities that the region offers, the study of the Southeast Asian region has not received the attention and focus that it actually deserves among Indian strategic circles. Given this, the study undertaken by CHRIST (Deemed to be University) in collaboration with Hanns Seidel Stiftung (HSS) aims to bridge this gap in existing scholarship of the region in India and to provide valuable insights to the country’s foreign policy making architecture in building India’s relationship with the region in forthcoming years. Here are few key takeaways from the report:
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India's shared border with Myanmar makes it necessary for it to develop physical infrastructure that improves border trade and inter-personal connections. Additionally, it gives India the prospects to connect to continental ASEAN by rail and road lines, fostering stronger cultural and commercial ties. By enabling the seamless movement of products and services, the upgraded connectivity infrastructure between India and ASEAN is anticipated to produce greater economic results. With the 3Cs—culture, connectivity, and commerce—declared as the primary pillars of engagement with ASEAN, connectivity has taken new emphasis in India's renamed Act East Policy.
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The security exchanges between India and Southeast Asia are a recent development. India's security diplomacy with ASEAN countries has grown as a result of the country's expanding maritime presence and interests. The growing geopolitical and strategic importance of India and ASEAN in the Indo-Pacific, the shared pursuit of energy resources in the South China Sea, the security dynamics in light of China's expanding footprints in the region, and the undercurrents of US-China strategic contestations have all shaped India-security engagement with ASEAN.
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The paradigm of New Delhi's policy toward the area has shifted over time from one of security to one of development. Aiming to connect NER with Southeast Asia through connectivity projects and consequently increase economic opportunities between the region, New Delhi placed NER in its Look East and Act East policy agenda. Southeast Asia is a key area for New Delhi's connection ambitions due to its geographic proximity to NER. In order to encourage greater mobility of products and people between the regions, India has placed an emphasis on both sea and land connectivity. India has started a number of connectivity projects to strengthen the infrastructure around the borders of Southeast Asian nations as well as the NER.
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The Look/Act East Policy's key tactic has been to project its soft power in Southeast Asian nations. A crucial component of foreign policy, soft power works to promote a nation's good reputation overseas through a variety of cultural channels. Through Buddha to Bollywood, India has tried to use its soft-power potential in Southeast Asia. Through its support for Southeast Asian nations' temple renovation projects, films, cultural events, and tourism, India has promoted soft power in the area.