THE CONTEXT: There has been a significant shift in India’s foreign policy concerning the South China Sea disputes. Historically, India maintained a neutral stance, but recent developments indicate a more assertive approach. This change is attributed to India’s broader strategic and economic goals, including the need to secure energy resources and uphold international maritime law.
ISSUES:
- Policy Shift from Economic to Strategic Engagement: Initially, India’s involvement in the South China Sea was primarily economic, driven by the Look East Policy. This has transformed under Prime Minister Narendra Modi’s administration’s Act East Policy, which emphasizes not only economic integration but also strategic partnerships and security cooperation with Indo-Pacific nations.
- Increased Geopolitical Tensions with China: There have been escalating geopolitical tensions between India and China, particularly following the Galwan Valley incident 2020. This tension is reflected in India’s more assertive stance in the South China Sea, including military deployments and naval exercises to counter China’s aggressive territorial claims.
- Support for International Maritime Law: India’s stance in the South China Sea increasingly supports adherence to international maritime law, specifically the United Nations Convention on the Law of the Sea (UNCLOS). This reflects a commitment to a rules-based global order and challenges China’s unilateral actions in the region.
- Strategic Engagements and ASEAN Centrality: India’s strategic engagements, such as regular naval exercises and military cooperation with Southeast Asian nations, underscore its commitment to regional security. These engagements also emphasize the importance of ASEAN centrality in India’s Indo-Pacific strategy despite the challenges posed by differences within the regional grouping.
- Implications for Regional and Global Maritime Order: India’s policy in the South China Sea is portrayed as having a significant impact on regional security and the global maritime order, particularly regarding freedom of navigation and overflight. This is critical not only for India’s trade and energy transportation routes but also for global naval traffic.
- India’s Role as a Responsible Stakeholder: India is positioning itself as a responsible stakeholder committed to regional stability and security. This role is part of a broader strategy to safeguard its interests while contributing to collective efforts to maintain peace and respect international law in the Indo-Pacific region.
THE WAY FORWARD:
- Diplomatic Engagement: India should continue to engage diplomatically with China and ASEAN countries to encourage peaceful resolution of disputes and adherence to international law.
- Strengthening Partnerships: India should further strengthen its strategic and defense partnerships with countries in the Indo-Pacific region, including Vietnam, Malaysia, Singapore, and the Philippines.
- Multilateral Forums: India should actively participate in multilateral forums to advocate for the freedom of navigation, overflight, and a rules-based maritime order.
- Economic Cooperation: India should pursue economic cooperation with Southeast Asian countries to enhance regional integration and mutual dependency, which can serve as a stabilizing factor.
- Naval Presence and Exercises: India should maintain a regular naval presence in the Indo-Pacific and conduct joint exercises with regional navies to demonstrate its commitment to regional security.
- Legal and Technical Support: India could offer legal and technical support to countries involved in the South China Sea disputes to help them navigate the complexities of international maritime law.
- Public Diplomacy: India should engage in public diplomacy to articulate its stance on the South China Sea and build international consensus on the importance of a rules-based order.
THE CONCLUSION:
By advocating for a rules-based maritime order and emphasizing the importance of UNCLOS, India is positioning itself as a responsible stakeholder in regional security. This nuanced approach aims to balance India’s interests with its commitment to collective peace and stability while also serving as a counterbalance to China’s assertive policies. India’s recalibrated strategy underscores the importance of ASEAN centrality in its Indo-Pacific vision and the need to support the freedom of navigation and overflight in the South China Sea, which is crucial for global trade and energy transportation.
UPSC PAST YEAR QUESTIONS:
Q.1 With respect to the South China sea, maritime territorial disputes and rising tension affirm the need for safeguarding maritime security to ensure freedom of navigation and over flight throughout the region. In this context, discuss the bilateral issues between India and China. 2014
Q.2 The newly tri-nation partnership AUKUS aims to counter China’s ambitions in the Indo-Pacific region. Is it going to supersede the existing alliances in the region? Discuss the strength and impact of AUKUS in the present scenario. 2021
MAINS PRACTICE QUESTION:
Q.1 Evaluate the implications of India’s evolving policy in the South China Sea on its relations with ASEAN countries and China. Discuss how India’s stance on the South China Sea reflects its broader strategic objectives in the Indo-Pacific region.
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