China’s growing assertiveness helps India-ASEAN ties       

Professor Sukhdeo Muni, India’s former envoy to Laos and special envoy to South-East Asian countries on United Nations Security Council (UNSC) reforms, remains a votary of strong bilateral relations between India and ASEAN (Association of South-East Asian Nations).

In an interview with NH, the former diplomat notes the changing contours of India’s engagement with its south-east Asian neighbours, which of late has been influenced by China. While the relationship is going strong, Muni believes that bilateral trade between the two sides still leaves a lot to be desired.

Edited excerpts:

Q. How important is economic cooperation between India and ASEAN?

A. As far as economic relations are concerned, we are moving fast. The two-way trade and investments has been growing steadily. However, there’s still a lot left to be achieved. For instance, the aim was to reach a $1100 billion bilateral trade figure by 2016. But the two-way trade is still hovering around $770 billion. There are also some issues in investments. Then, there are concerns over the burgeoning trade deficit which is largely against India. The deficit has more than doubled from $66.7 billion in 2010 to $115.1 billion in 2015. Overall, the relationship is sound, but it is not up to the expectations of ASEAN or Indian side.

Q. How important is the ASEAN block for India’s Look East Policy?

A. The Look East Policy has been transformed into Act East Policy under PM Modi. Back in the 1990s, it stared out with the ASEAN block, but later was expanded to encompass Japan, Korea and the region now known as the Indo-Pacific. So, the entire Act East Policy is related to ASEAN and beyond. Having said that, ASEAN continues to remain at the centre of the Act East Policy, which is reflected in government communications and joint communiques.

Q. Would you say that India-ASEAN relationship of late has been driven by concerns around China’s growing assertiveness in the region?

A. India’s relations with ASEAN are much older. The China factor came in later, after Beijing abandoned its policy of ‘Peaceful Rise’ in the wake of President Xi Jinping assuming leadership. The rise of China, however, has added complications to the India-ASEAN relations. It has added more challenges to it. But China is not the only factor that is driving ASEAN and India closer. In fact, when China attacked Vietnam in 1979, we stood at their side in the United Nations. Before that, we supported Vietnam during the America-Vietnam War. China’s growing assertiveness in the South China Sea is concerning for all ASEAN member states. The main reason that’s keeping these countries from taking a more vocal stand is their economic ties with China.

Q. How important is India from the view point of ASEAN countries?

A. Well, China has a formidable presence in South--East Asia, both militarily and economically. So, ASEAN countries are looking to balance out China by involving other players in the region, and that is where India comes in.