East Asia Explorer
Date: January 08, 2025
The East Asia Explorer tracks evolving geopolitical trends, emerging security challenges, and progress towards regional integration in East Asia. It focuses on the ASEAN grouping, domestic and foreign policy developments in countries of East Asia and Oceania, great power contestation in the region, and India’s relations with ASEAN and its member countries.
In this issue, Prof. Prabir De reviews the functioning of the ASEAN-India Free Trade Agreement and the ASEAN-India Trade in Goods Agreement (AITIGA). He highlights a shift towards manufactured goods, with non-oil and non-mineral products dominating both exports and imports. However, due to rising trade asymmetries and an increase in non-tariff measures (NTMs), he argues that a review of AITIGA is necessary. In conclusion, he stresses the urgent need for the renegotiation of the AITIGA, suggesting that Malaysia's upcoming chairmanship presents a timely opportunity to advance these discussions ahead of the next ASEAN-India Summit in October 2025.
Jayantika Rao examines India’s engagement with Southeast Asia and ASEAN through its “Act East” policy. She evaluates India’s expanding security and economic outreach to the Southeast Asian region and ASEAN. She identifies contemporary trends and suggests a deeper engagement under the “Act East” policy to utilise the untapped potential in engaging with ASEAN and the Southeast Asian countries.
Divya Rai assesses the relationship between Vietnam and China. She highlights that despite sporadic tensions and confrontations in the South China Sea, Vietnam has managed to maintain a close relationship with China. While maintaining the policy of “Cooperation and Confrontation” with Beijing, Vietnam has adopted the “More Friends and Fewer Enemies” approach to counter China’s growing ambitions in the South China Sea. She concludes that this dual strategy allows Vietnam to navigate its complex relationship with China.
Amb. Biren Nanda presents India’s perspective on Southeast Asia and ASEAN amid China’s expanding influence in the region. He examines the various approaches individual Southeast Asian countries take towards China's aggressive manoeuvres and expansionist policies in the South China Sea, as well as their efforts to balance relationships with both China and the United States. He concludes by exploring India’s reactions to these developments in Southeast Asia.
In this issue, Prof. Prabir De reviews the functioning of the ASEAN-India Free Trade Agreement and the ASEAN-India Trade in Goods Agreement (AITIGA). He highlights a shift towards manufactured goods, with non-oil and non-mineral products dominating both exports and imports. However, due to rising trade asymmetries and an increase in non-tariff measures (NTMs), he argues that a review of AITIGA is necessary. In conclusion, he stresses the urgent need for the renegotiation of the AITIGA, suggesting that Malaysia's upcoming chairmanship presents a timely opportunity to advance these discussions ahead of the next ASEAN-India Summit in October 2025.
Jayantika Rao examines India’s engagement with Southeast Asia and ASEAN through its “Act East” policy. She evaluates India’s expanding security and economic outreach to the Southeast Asian region and ASEAN. She identifies contemporary trends and suggests a deeper engagement under the “Act East” policy to utilise the untapped potential in engaging with ASEAN and the Southeast Asian countries.
Divya Rai assesses the relationship between Vietnam and China. She highlights that despite sporadic tensions and confrontations in the South China Sea, Vietnam has managed to maintain a close relationship with China. While maintaining the policy of “Cooperation and Confrontation” with Beijing, Vietnam has adopted the “More Friends and Fewer Enemies” approach to counter China’s growing ambitions in the South China Sea. She concludes that this dual strategy allows Vietnam to navigate its complex relationship with China.
Amb. Biren Nanda presents India’s perspective on Southeast Asia and ASEAN amid China’s expanding influence in the region. He examines the various approaches individual Southeast Asian countries take towards China's aggressive manoeuvres and expansionist policies in the South China Sea, as well as their efforts to balance relationships with both China and the United States. He concludes by exploring India’s reactions to these developments in Southeast Asia.
