Round The World
New Delhi, 26 November 2014
India-Pacific
Integration
WILL IT BECOME A
REALITY?
By Ashok B Sharma
The Asia Pacific region has emerged as a global epicentre for trade and
economy, politics and diplomacy and has thus raised concerns for security.
Recognising its importance, super power the United States, has termed the
region as “pivot” and has expressed its intention to “rebalance” in this
theatre. The emerging power, China too has made substantial forays. Now it is
the turn for India as another emerging economy to play its role in the region.
One of the substantial takeaways from the recent 10-day visit of Prime
Minister Narendra Modi to this region was not only the change in the country’s
‘Look East Policy’ to ‘Act East Policy’ but also in strengthening of the bonds
in the last frontiers of the east to the Pacific Islands, which was long
overdue.
However, for India to play a more proactive role in the region, it needs
to be a member of Asia-Pacific Economic Cooperation (APEC). India already has
Summit level talks with ASEAN and is represented in the East Asia Summit (EAS)
and Asia-Europe Meeting (ASEM) which is held at Summit level. It also
participates in the ASEAN Regional Forum (ARF) and in ASEAN Defence Ministers’
Meetings (ADMM ). The Regional Comprehensive Economic Partnership (RCEP) is
being worked out with the 10-member ASEAN bloc and seven other countries
including India.
In his recent visit to Fiji, Modi formalised the first meeting of
leaders of 14 Pacific Island countries including Cooks Island, Tonga, Tuvalu,
Nauru, Kiribati, Vanuatu, Solomon Islands, Samoa, Niue, Palau, Micronesia,
Marshall Islands, Fiji and Papua New Guinea, which form the Pacific Island
Forum (PIF) along with Australia. Next such India-PIF Summit level meeting is
slated in a coastal city in India. With all such engagements, India rightly
qualifies for the membership of APEC.
Modi has rightly lauded Fiji’s return to democracy under the new
Constitution that gives equal rights to all citizens, including Indian citizens
in that country. The most wise decision was to rope in the Pacific Island
countries through Pan-Pacific IT network for tele-medicines and tele-education
on the lines of Pan-Africa IT network successfully implemented by India. He further
announced visa-on-arrival for citizens of all 14 PIF countries, setting up of $
one million Adaptation Fund to combat climate change and assured to set up
regional hubs for solar energy.
India would provide $125,000 Grant-in-aid annually to each PIF country
for locally selected community projects. With a view to increase trade between
PIF countries and India, Modi assured to help setting up of trade offices in
PIF missions in India. Sharing of IT experiences, training of diplomats,
capacity building, cooperation in space technology was also assured by him.
As Fiji has been selected as India’s launching pad, Modi announced $5
million grant for modernising Fiji’s village, small and medium industries, $70
million for co-generation power plant at Rarav Sugar Mill, $5 million line of
credit for upgrading sugar industry, setting up of a centre of excellence in IT
and build Digital Fiji, setting up of a regional hub for space technology,
assisting to set up e-library in Fiji Parliament and doubling scholarship and
training slots for Fiji students.
But still much more needs to be done to ensure a perfect marriage
between the Indian and Pacific Oceans. New Delhi should take the initiative in
this direction. About two-third of the global trade passes through this region.
Maritime piracy is gaining grounds and this calls for perfect vigilance and
adequate maritime security.
The Indian Ocean Rim Association (IORA), in which India is a member
along with 19 other countries, is still in its infancy. IORA meetings take
place at the level of foreign ministers. At present Australia, Bangladesh,
Comoros, India, Indonesia, Iran, Kenya, Madagascar, Malaysia, Mauritius,
Mozambique, Oman, Seychelles, Singapore, South Africa, Sri Lanka, Tanzania,
Thailand, UAE and Yemen are members. China, Egypt, France, Japan, UK and the US
are its Dialogue Partners.
There is an urgent need for including all the countries in the Indian
Ocean Rim as members of IORA. Egypt which is situated on the banks of the Suez
Canal should be taken in as a member and not as a mere Dialogue Partner.
Absolute priority should be given to upgrade IORA to Summit level talks. Like
ASEAN, the IORA group should be based perfectly on geographical necessity and
thus maintain its own centrality. All other countries can be co-opted as
Dialogue Partners or Observers with limited roles, particularly in an advisory
capacity. Australia, which is currently the chair of IORA, has much to do to
initiate the process of integration in the Indian Ocean Rim and subsequently
raising it to the level of Summit level talks. Initiatives should be taken to
intensify Indian Ocean Naval Symposium (IONS).
Regional blocs in the Asia-Pacific have become an urgent necessity in
the era of globalisation. Strengthening of integration in South Asia is important.
The eight-member South Asian Association for Regional Cooperation (SAARC)
should be strengthened and neighbouring Myanmar should be a member. Currently
SAARC comprises of Afghanistan, Bangladesh, Bhutan, India, Maldives, Nepal,
Pakistan and Sri Lanka.
As all these countries are geographically South Asia and share common
cultural heritage and civilizational linkages, there is a need to maintain the
centrality of SAARC on the lines of ASEAN. China, Australia, European Union,
Japan, South Korea, Mauritius and US which are not geographically South Asian
countries can continue to remain as Observers with a limited role. Case of
Iran’s membership in SAARC may be considered as it is strictly not a West Asian
country. Connectivity in the SAARC region should be fully ensured and SAFTA
made a vibrant reality.
Centrality of SAARC and IORA and ASEAN and PIF on the other side can
eventually ensure a perfect marriage of the two great oceans – Indian Ocean and
the Pacific Ocean. The inter-connectivity of SAARC, IORA, ASEAN and PIF would
make the Asia-Pacific region a vibrant reality. The Modi government has done
sufficient spadework in boosting relationships with Australia, Japan, China,
PIF, ASEAN including Myanmar. It needs to boost its engagements with two other
economies like South Korea and New Zealand. India’s initiative can make the
integration of the two great oceans much stronger.---INFA
(Copyright, India News and Feature Alliance)
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