Indo Pacific

What is Indo Pacific?

• The “Indo-Pacific” idea was originally conceived in 2006- 07. It was 1st time used by Shinzo Abe in Japan in 2007.
• Ministry of External Affairs has set up a dedicated Indo-Pacific division for matters related to the Indo-Pacific.
• The term ‘Indo-Pacific’ combines the Indian Ocean Region  (IOR) and the Western Pacific Region (WP) – inclusive of the contiguous seas off East Asia and Southeast Asia – into a  singular regional construct.

• The US was reinvigorated in the 2017 East Asia Summit. The US wants an open, free, inclusive, prosperous and rule-based Indo-Pacific system.

• Significance of Indo-Pacific for India

  1. Natural resources, Market potential, Northeast States, Blue Economy aspirations, Freedom of navigation, counter China.
  2. It will provide the role of a Net security provider and security architecture.
  3. Help in Act East Asia Policy, multilateral groupings, and the role of ports.
  4. This is a shift from Asia-Pacific (including Northeast Asia, Southeast Asia and Oceania) where India was included in APEC. India is still outside APEC.

• India’s Vision for Indo-Pacific in the Shangri La Dialogue

  1. India embraced the concept of Indo-Pacific and said India stands for a free, open, inclusive region.
  2. It includes all nations in this geography as also others beyond who have a stake in it.
  3. Southeast Asia is at its Centre. And ASEAN is central to its future.
  4. Evolve, through dialogue, a common rules-based order for the region. These rules and norms should be based on the consent of all, not on the power of the few.
  5. Rather than growing protectionism, India seeks a level playing field for all. India stands for an open and stable international trade regime.
  6. Connectivity is vital and India is doing its part, by itself and in partnership with others like Japan – in South Asia and Southeast Asia, in the Indian Ocean, Africa, West Asia and beyond.
  7. India’s view can be summarized into five S in Hindi: Samman (respect); Samvad (dialogue); Sahyog (cooperation), Shanti (peace), and  Samridhi (prosperity).

• India's role in Indo Pacific: India's goal is to

  1. Seek a climate of trust and transparency.
  2. Respect for international maritime rules and norms by all the countries.
  3. Sensitivity to each other's interests.
  4. Peaceful resolution of maritime security issues.
  5. Increase in maritime cooperation.

• India's Initiatives for Indo-Pacific

  1. Defence Exercises, Strategic Partnership with countries.
  2. Forum of India-Pacific Islands Cooperation.
  3. Asia- Africa Growth Corridor.
  4. SAGAR Approach and Project MAUSAM.
  5. Quad-plus- were India, Japan, Australia, U.S. and countries of ASEAN.

What is in the news? Indo Pacific Regional Dialogue 2021

• First conducted in 2018, the IPRD is the apex international annual conference of the Indian Navy and is the principal manifestation of the Navy’s engagement at the strategic-level. The National Maritime Foundation is the Navy’s knowledge partner and chief organiser of each edition of this annual event. The aim of each successive edition is to review both opportunities and challenges that arise within the Indo-Pacific.
• India is fully determined to protect its maritime interests, while it supports the mandates of the UN Convention on Law of Seas, 1982
• Seas are vital for the transport of goods, exchange of ideas, catalysing innovations & bringing the world closer
• Need for efficient & collaborative harnessing of maritime potential of Indo-Pacific for a steady path to prosperity
• A cooperative response is needed for challenges such as terrorism, piracy, drug trafficking & climate change
• The broad theme of IPRD 2021, is ‘Evolution in Maritime Strategy during the 21st Century: Imperatives, Challenges and Way Ahead.

Under the broad theme, the IPRD 2021 will focus on eight specific sub-themes. These are:

• Evolving Maritime Strategies within the Indo-Pacific: Convergences, Divergences, Expectations and Apprehensions.
• Adaptive Strategies to Address the Impact of Climate Change upon Maritime Security.
• Port-led Regional Maritime Connectivity and Development Strategies.
• Cooperative Maritime Domain Awareness Strategies.
• Impact of the Increasing Recourse to Lawfare upon a Rules-based Indo-Pacific Maritime Order.
• Strategies to Promote Regional Public-Private Maritime Partnerships.
• Energy-Insecurity and Mitigating Strategies.
• Strategies to Address the Manned-Unmanned Conundrum at Sea.

Agni 5 Missile

• A successful launch of the Surface to Surface Ballistic Missile, Agni-5, was carried out on October 27, 2021, at approximately 1950 hrs from APJ Abdul Kalam Island, Odisha.
• The missile, which uses a three-stage solid-fuelled engine, is capable of striking targets at ranges up to 5,000 kilometres with a very high degree of accuracy.
• The successful test of Agni-5 is in line with India’s stated policy to have ‘credible minimum deterrence’ that underpins the commitment to ‘No First Use’.

Allied Topics:

• Click here to read about Agni P (Prime) Missile.
• For a complete Lecture on India Year Book Chapter Missile System of India: click here
• Click on the links for comprehensive notes on India's Defense System and Missile System of India.