Excessive dependence on multilateral frameworks to fulfil national objectives may seem lucrative in the short term but could prove to be costly in the long term. Analyse India’s policy on Indo-Pacific alliance in the above context.
Refer – The Hindu
IAS Parliament 6 years
KEY POINTS
Indo-Pacific alliance (QUAD)
· The recent discussions on the proposed “QUAD”, focussed on cooperation based on their converging vision and values for promotion of peace, stability and prosperity.
· India, Australia, Japan and the U.S. were the members of quadrilateral dialogue process.
· Taking it a step further, Japan has called for the inclusion of France and Germany in to the Quad.
· India is being pulled into multiple alliances to counter China’s connectivity initiatives and growing clout.
· Notably, India is already working on connectivity projects on its own in its neighbouring countries and ASEAN.
· India has also vouched to support any project of countries whose broad goals are aligned to it in the region.
· U.S. has also begun investing in India’s periphery – notably, a $500 million agreement with Nepal to build infrastructure there.
· Japan is attempting to align its own development initiatives to improving connectivity in the region through high-profile projects.
· It is important to note that while the government’s new plan to involve the U.S. and Japan in development projects in South Asia will yield the necessary finances, it will come at the cost of India’s leverage in its own backyard.
· India’s counter to China’s persistent demand for a diplomatic mission in Thimphu, for example, could be to help the U.S. set up a parallel mission there — but once those floodgates open, they will be hard to shut.
· In Sri Lanka, the U.S. and Japan will now partner in India’s efforts to counter China’s influence, but whereas India objected to Chinese naval presence in the Indian Ocean, it will not be able to object to an increase in U.S. naval warships and Japanese presence there.
Caution
· Cooperative mechanisms are crucial to maintain stability in the Indian Ocean Region.
· But it would be prudent on India’s part to do a cost-benefit analysis of building such grand alliances during uncertain times.
· Even countries wanting to shape an alliance to counter China are deeply intertwined with China in terms of trade.
· Hence, caution is needed and excessive dependence on multilateral frameworks to fulfil national objectives may prove a costly mistake.
