India's East Asia Outreach Programme

About

India's East Asia Outreach, primarily through its Act East Policy (AEP), is a strategic initiative launched in 2014 as an evolution of the Look East Policy (LEP) from the 1990s. It aims to deepen India’s engagement with Southeast Asia, East Asia, and the broader Indo-Pacific region through economic, strategic, cultural, and connectivity initiatives. Below is an overview of the policy, its objectives, achievements, challenges, and recent developments based on available information.

Objectives of India's East Asia Outreach
  1. Economic Integration:
    • Strengthen trade and investment ties with ASEAN (Association of Southeast Asian Nations) and East Asian countries like Japan, South Korea, and Australia.
    • Boost the development of India’s Northeastern Region (NER) as a gateway to Southeast Asia through infrastructure and connectivity projects.
    • Enhance India’s role in regional supply chains and digital economy partnerships (e.g., fintech, e-commerce).
  2. Strategic and Security Cooperation:
    • Counterbalance China’s growing influence in the Indo-Pacific, particularly in the South China Sea, by supporting a rules-based order and freedom of navigation.
    • Deepen defense and security ties through joint military exercises, arms deals, and maritime cooperation.
    • Promote India as a net security provider in the Indo-Pacific through initiatives like the Indo-Pacific Oceans Initiative (IPOI) and participation in the Quad (India, US, Japan, Australia).
  3. Cultural and People-to-People Ties:
    • Leverage India’s historical and cultural connections (e.g., Buddhism, Hinduism, and maritime trade) to strengthen soft power.
    • Promote initiatives like yoga diplomacy and engage the Indian diaspora in countries like Malaysia and Singapore as cultural bridges.
  4. Regional Connectivity:
    • Develop infrastructure projects to enhance physical and digital connectivity, such as the India-Myanmar-Thailand Trilateral Highway and Kaladan Multi-Modal Transit Transport Project.
    • Foster sub-regional initiatives like the Mekong-Ganga Cooperation (MGC) and Bay of Bengal Initiative for Multi-Sectoral Technical and Economic Cooperation (BIMSTEC).

Key Achievements

  • Diplomatic Engagement:
    • India’s relationship with ASEAN was elevated to a Comprehensive Strategic Partnership in 2022, reflecting deeper ties in trade, defense, and cultural exchange.
    • Prime Minister Narendra Modi’s frequent visits (over a dozen to ASEAN countries since 2014) and high-level diplomatic exchanges, such as External Affairs Minister S. Jaishankar’s Southeast Asia tours, underscore India’s commitment.
    • India has strengthened bilateral ties with countries like Vietnam, the Philippines, and Thailand through defense dialogues and joint exercises, e.g., the India-Thailand joint military exercise (July 2024) and India-ASEAN Maritime Exercises (2023).
  • Economic Growth:
    • ASEAN is India’s fourth-largest trading partner, with bilateral trade nearly doubling since 2015 due to the India-ASEAN Free Trade Agreement.
    • Foreign direct investment from ASEAN countries has increased, alongside India’s exports to the region.
  • Security and Defense:
    • India has emerged as a defense partner, notably through the BrahMos missile deal with the Philippines (2022) and arms supplies to Vietnam, reducing regional dependence on China.
    • Maritime security cooperation has expanded, with India supporting freedom of navigation in the South China Sea and participating in forums like the ASEAN Regional Forum (ARF) and East Asia Summit (EAS).
  • Cultural Outreach:
    • The Indian diaspora (approximately 2 million in Southeast Asia) and initiatives like International Yoga Day have bolstered cultural ties.
    • India’s Vaccine Maitri initiative provided vaccines to Pacific Island countries like Papua New Guinea, enhancing its regional goodwill.
  • Connectivity Initiatives:
    • Projects like the Agartala-Akhaura Rail Link (with Bangladesh) and India-Japan Act East Forum projects for NER infrastructure modernization are advancing regional connectivity.

Recent Developments (2024-2025)

  • Diplomatic Intensification:
    • In 2024, marking the 10th anniversary of the AEP, the Modi 3.0 administration intensified outreach with visits to Brunei, Singapore, and Laos (for the ASEAN-India and East Asia Summits in October 2024).
    • India elevated its relationship with the Philippines to a Strategic Partnership in August 2025, with agreements signed during President Marcos’ visit to India.
    • New engagements with Cambodia and Laos, including the CINBAX exercise with Cambodia (December 2024) and MoUs with Laos, reflect India’s outreach to China’s traditional partners.
  • Defense and Security:
    • The ninth India-Thailand Defence Dialogue (December 2024) and increased maritime cooperation with Indonesia and Vietnam highlight India’s growing security role.
    • India’s support for the Philippines in South China Sea disputes, including backing the 1982 UNCLOS, counters China’s assertiveness.
  • Connectivity and Economic Focus:
    • India proposed 10 suggestions at the 2024 ASEAN-India Summit to enhance connectivity, including trade facilitation and a cyber policy dialogue.
    • The MGC Business Council (established in 2023) and Quick Impact Projects in Cambodia, Laos, Myanmar, and Vietnam aim to boost development cooperation.

Challenges

  1. Limited Strategic Influence:
    • Only 0.4% of ASEAN respondents in a 2024 ISEAS survey viewed India as the most influential political/strategic actor, indicating a perception gap compared to China.
  2. China’s Dominance:
    • China’s Belt and Road Initiative (BRI) and military presence in the South China Sea overshadow India’s outreach.
    • India faces challenges balancing its Quad commitments with ASEAN centrality, with some perceiving the Quad as sidelining ASEAN.
  3. Economic Constraints:
    • India’s withdrawal from the Regional Comprehensive Economic Partnership (RCEP) in 2019 limited its economic integration with ASEAN.
    • Trade with ASEAN lags behind China’s, and India’s share in Malaysia’s trade dropped to under 3% by 2023.
  4. Connectivity Delays:
    • Projects like the Trilateral Highway and Kaladan Project face logistical, bureaucratic, and security challenges, with the latter’s budget ballooning to ?3,200 crore from ?536 crore.
  5. Regional Instability:
    • P





Posted by on 7th Aug 2025
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