Look East Policy
Review of India's Look East Policy
“India’s Look East Policy is not merely an external economic policy, it is also a strategic shift in India’s vision of the world and India’s place in the evolving global economy. Most of all it is about reaching out to our civilisational neighbours in South East Asia and East Asia”-- Prime Minister Dr. Manmohan Singh
Introduction
In many ways the post Cold War external environment of a globalizing world, without rival political alliances, gave India the opportunity to improve relations with all major powers. This was the time (1991), when India launched its Look East Policy. This also coincided with the period when India had launched her economic liberalization reforms.
With India’s obsession towards Pakistan and with its preoccupations with China, the South East Asian region did not figure much in its foreign policy till the early 90s. South East Asia was a growing market with countries like Malaysia, Singapore and Indonesia. China had already entrenched itself deeply in most of these countries over a period of time. Though some analysts pointed out that by launching this policy India was trying to balance China’s influence in this region, India had often reiterated that it was not competing with China in any manner. India had to go beyond the confines of SAARC if it had to reap the benefits out of the economic potential of the South East Asian region and establish itself as a regional power.
India-ASEAN Relations
India’s attitude towards ASEAN during its early years was ambivalent but not hostile. The Indian leadership viewed ASEAN as an American “imperialist surrogate” while ASEAN dubbed India as the “surrogate of the Soviet Union”. The signing of the Friendship Treaty with the Soviets, India’s stand on Afghanistan and India’s recognition of the Hang Samarin Government in 1981—all these led to estrangement between India and ASEAN India’s decision not participate as a dialogue partner in 1980 was a further
“India’s Look East Policy is not merely an external economic policy, it is also a strategic shift in India’s vision of the world and India’s place in the evolving global economy. Most of all it is about reaching out to our civilisational neighbours in South East Asia and East Asia”-- Prime Minister Dr. Manmohan Singh
Introduction
In many ways the post Cold War external environment of a globalizing world, without rival political alliances, gave India the opportunity to improve relations with all major powers. This was the time (1991), when India launched its Look East Policy. This also coincided with the period when India had launched her economic liberalization reforms.
With India’s obsession towards Pakistan and with its preoccupations with China, the South East Asian region did not figure much in its foreign policy till the early 90s. South East Asia was a growing market with countries like Malaysia, Singapore and Indonesia. China had already entrenched itself deeply in most of these countries over a period of time. Though some analysts pointed out that by launching this policy India was trying to balance China’s influence in this region, India had often reiterated that it was not competing with China in any manner. India had to go beyond the confines of SAARC if it had to reap the benefits out of the economic potential of the South East Asian region and establish itself as a regional power.
India-ASEAN Relations
India’s attitude towards ASEAN during its early years was ambivalent but not hostile. The Indian leadership viewed ASEAN as an American “imperialist surrogate” while ASEAN dubbed India as the “surrogate of the Soviet Union”. The signing of the Friendship Treaty with the Soviets, India’s stand on Afghanistan and India’s recognition of the Hang Samarin Government in 1981—all these led to estrangement between India and ASEAN India’s decision not participate as a dialogue partner in 1980 was a further