PM Modi is trying to free the sea from the fear of ‘Ravana’, will India kill the Indo-Pacific with these 7 arrows?

New Delhi: Prime Minister Narendra Modi is on a visit to Laos, where he/she spoke on peace and stability in the Indian Pacific region and the South China Sea while addressing the East Asia Summit (EAS). Prime Minister Modi laid great emphasis on the security and peace of the Indo-Pacific region from this platform. Earlier, it was on November 4, 2019, when from the same international forum, PM Modi had talked about the emerging differences in the Indo-Pacific region, in which he/she had said that the East Asia Summit will be a free, open, inclusive, transparent, rule-based It is a logical platform to promote a sustainable, peaceful, prosperous Indo-Pacific region, where the emphasis is on sovereignty and territorial integrity and adherence to the law of the sea.
At that time the PM had proposed ‘Indo-Pacific Ocean Initiative (IPOI)’, so that the Indo-Pacific maritime region can be made safe, fear-free and stable and for this a cooperative framework can be created among the interested nations. Let us know about Modi’s vision of a fear-free maritime zone and why it is so important. We will also know what kind of platform this is.

What are Modi’s 7 principles regarding maritime security?

Political analyst Dr. Rajeev Ranjan Giri says that in its resolution at the East Asia Summit on November 4, 2019, India had identified 7 core aspects of maritime cooperation and engagement, which are also Modi’s 7 arrows strategically. These are maritime security, marine ecosystem, marine resources, capacity building and resource sharing, disaster risk reduction and management, science, technology cooperation and trade connectivity and maritime transport. These principles of PM Modi can reduce China’s dominance in the Indo-Pacific region.

What is East Asia Summit?

The East Asia Summit was formed in 2005. It is a platform of 18 countries for strategic dialogue and cooperation on major political, security and economic challenges in the Indo-Pacific region. The idea of ​​this platform was first given by the then Malaysian Prime Minister Mahathir bin Muhammad in 1991. At that time he/she had talked about forming East Asia Group. The first East Asia Summit was held in Kuala Lumpur, Malaysia on December 14, 2005.

India included in the founding members of this platform

India is one of the founding members of the East Asia Summit. The East Asia Summit includes 10 member countries of the Association of Southeast Asian Nations (ASEAN) – Brunei, Cambodia, Indonesia, Laos, Malaysia, Myanmar, Philippines, Singapore, Thailand and Vietnam as well as 8 member countries Australia, China. , Japan, India, New Zealand, Republic of Korea, Russia and the United States.

58 percent share in world GDP

According to Dr. Rajeev Ranjan Giri, the members of the East Asia Summit represent approximately 54% of the world’s population and contribute 58% of the global GDP. The East Asia Summit is an ASEAN-centric forum. It can be chaired by only one ASEAN member.

Who chairs the East Asia Summit?

The Chairman of ASEAN is also the Chairman of the EAS and its Chairmanship is rotated annually among the 10 ASEAN member states. Major areas of cooperation are environment and energy, education, finance, global health issues, natural disaster management, connectivity among ASEAN countries, economic trade and cooperation, food security and maritime cooperation.

Is this the third pole after America and Europe?

An article by Dr. Temjenmaren Ao, a researcher at the Indian Global Council, ‘Role of the East Asia Summit in the Indo-Pacific and Geopolitical Region’ states that in 2021, EAS members represented about 54% of the world’s population. Its member countries trade trade worth an estimated $57.2 trillion, which is 59.5% of global GDP. It is a region with strong and rapidly growing economies. It is considered the third pole of the world economy after America and Europe.

India, Japan, China and Korea in the world economy

The four major economic partner countries in the East Asia Summit are Japan, China, India and Korea, which are among the 12 high-ranking global economies. Financial and monetary cooperation among the EAS countries is so great that their combined foreign exchange reserves have crossed $3 trillion.

China has an evil eye on the sea, enmity with India

China has some dispute with almost every country in the Indo-Pacific region, including India and Japan. Actually, China’s intentions are nefarious. It has an evil eye on expanding its dominance from the South China Sea to the Indo-Pacific region. Apart from this, China also considers India as its rival in the field of trade and investment in this region.

Emphasis on free trade including maritime security

Dr. Temjenmaren Ao says that the purpose of EAS is to develop maritime security as well as free trade zone in the sea. This is the reason why PM Modi wants to make the ocean fear-free. he/she wants that due to maritime security, maritime trade between Indo-Pacific countries will increase more. In fact, increasing military budgets among regional powers undermines the broader objective of peace, security and prosperity in the region.

What is the importance of EAS for India?

For India, EAS is a platform to recognize its rapidly growing economic and political power. India has emphasized on its Act East Policy to build multi-dimensional relations and strengthen bilateral relations with ASEAN and other multilateral countries, for which EAS will prove important.

India can become a big power in the maritime sector

China’s assertiveness in the South China Sea and the nature of its growing investments have led ASEAN countries to view India as a potential power that can balance China. India can become a big power in the maritime sector. India’s strengths lie in the services sector and information technology, while Japan also has a strong capital base.