Indo-Pacific: Opportunities and Challenges for India

Abstract

Emergence of Indo-Pacific is a strategic reality of this century as global economic power is shifting from West to the East. Chinese extremist policy across the Indian and Pacific Oceans breaks the security arrangement established after end of cold war. India’s role is considered crucial by countries like United States, Japan, Australia and ASEAN. Indian engagement in this area represents a shift in strategy—realizing expanding threats from its continental border to its maritime space. In recent years, diplomatic relation between India and China have centered on power play, there is a competition for resources and regional influence. China has exercised strategic and diplomatic tools to oppose India on many issues including APEC, NSG and India’s claims for permanent seat in UN Security Council. India is trying to develop an extraordinary naval capability for operating in the Indo-Pacific and, similarly, China is also doing the same and it is likely that the Indo-Pacific environment will be the test of the capability for co-existence or clash between the two. United States has shown interest for India to balance China’s rise and the stagnation for Japan to establish a stable regional balance of power. China is more dominant other than United States in this area and will try to take control over Taiwan and South China Sea. China will also continue to disturb the political systems of countries in the Indo-Pacific specifically. United States is having more human potential as compared with others having in the world and having world’s best technological advancement, but the best asset in the Indo-Pacific region is its democratic allies with Japan, South Korea and Australia are having a structural development in diplomatic relations since last 15 years, which will help India to rise in this area. Both are having a commitment towards the democratic features and rule of law. India is having a vision and inclusive approach towards Indo-Pacific, but it can only be taken seriously only if it is ready to provide security for the Indian Ocean in actual. India must deal with these challenges, building collective capacity, promoting cooperation within region through small and big associations like Indian Ocean Rim, Association for Regional Cooperation (IOR-ARC). This paper will raise the question of peace and stability in Indo-Pacific and try to find out what is the comprehensive security picture from Indian perspective and what strategies India should adopt to create a balance in Indo-Pacific. First part of the paper ‘Introduction’ will discuss desirability of India’s involvement in Indo- Pacific in changed political environment since post-cold war. In the second part of the paper, rise of QUAD, ASEAN Centrality and India’s bilateral and trilateral engagements in Indo-Pacific will be discussed. India aims at using this area as strategic interests, third part of the paper will discuss geo-political challenges for India under heading ‘China and India: Competing Friends or Rivals’. Conclusion is an effort to sum up how India can take Indo-Pacific region as an opportunity for completion of their National interest.