AI-05 (Dec. 2018) — South Korea’s “New Southern Policy”: Economic Diversification with Strategic and Social Dimensions

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South Korea’s “New Southern Policy”: Economic Diversification with Strategic and Social Dimensions

Leif-Eric Easley (Associate Professor, International Studies, Ewha Womans University, Korea)

President Moon Jae-in declared the Republic of Korea (ROK or South Korea)’s “New Southern Policy” (신남방정책) at the Indonesia-Korea Business Forum in Jakarta in November 2017:

“The Korean government will strongly push forward its New Southern Policy to dramatically improve cooperative ties with ASEAN…[achieving] a community for the people that connects people to people and minds to minds; a community of peace that can contribute to peace across Asia; and, lastly, a community of co-existence and co-prosperity where ASEAN countries thrive together with reciprocal economic cooperation.”

The policy’s significance is demonstrated by the attention the Moon administration has shown to strengthening ties with Indo-Pacific neighbors. According to the ROK Ministry of Foreign Affairs, the “New Southern Policy”aims to reinforce relations across economic, strategic and social dimensions. At the 19th Korea-ASEAN Summit, Moon announced that one of South Korea’s core diplomatic policies will be to deepen cooperation with Southeast Asia and India. Even at a joint press conference with U.S. President Donald Trump, Moon emphasized that South Korea aims for a more “balanced diplomacy,” not by downgrading relations with major powers, but by upgrading relations with Indo-Pacific regional partners….(for fulltext, please download AI-05)

Dr. Leif-Eric Easley is Associate Professor of International Studies at Ewha Womans University, Korea. He can be reached via: leifeasley [at] gmail.com

AI-04 (Dec. 2018) — China-India Plus in Afghanistan and Beyond: How Far Can It Go?

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China-India Plus in Afghanistan and Beyond: How Far Can It Go?

Roger Liu (Chair, the Center for South and Southeast Asia Studies (CSSAS); Associate Professor, Political Science, FLAME University, India)

Saumya Sampath (Research Associate, Centre for Experimental Social Sciences (CESS) Nuffield–FLAME University, India)

The bilateral relationship between China and India begins to warm up after
the Modi-Xi informal meeting in Wuhan, Hubei Province in April 2018. Other
than a series of official meetings, China also launched the “China India Plus
(CI+).” As a pilot project aiming at possible co-management of regional affairs
such as the Afghanistan situation, the Rohingya issue as well as the Iran nuclear
issue, the CI+ reflects the Chinese ambition to extrapolate the model to countries
such as Nepal and Sri Lanka in areas such as infrastructure, economics and even
security. Beginning with a joint training program for Afghan diplomats in New
Delhi and Beijing, China and India are also planning to work on a joint economic
project in Afghanistan….(for fulltext, please download AI-04)

Dr.Roger C.F. Liu is Chair of the Center for South and Southeast Asia Studies (CSSAS)and Associate Professor of Political Science, FLAME University, India. He can be reached via: roger.cf.liu [at] gmail.com
Saumya Sampath is Research Associate at Centre for Experimental Social Sciences (CESS) Nuffield–FLAME University, India. She ca be reached via:
saumya.sampath [at] flame.edu.in

AI-03 (Nov. 2018) — Quad v/s Act East Policy: A Cautious India Needs to Move Closer to Regional/Sub-regional Initiatives

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Quad v/s Act East Policy: A Cautious India Needs to Move Closer to Regional/Sub-regional Initiatives

By Sampa Kundu (Assistant Professor, Symbiosis School of International Studies, India)

November 2018 witnessed few significant developments with regard to India’s Act East Policy and India’s broader approach to the Indo-Pacific. The Indian Prime Minister Narendra Modi visited Singapore to attend the ASEANIndia Breakfast Summit, 13th East Asia Summit (EAS), 2nd Regional Comprehensive Economic Cooperation (RCEP) Summit and other meetings related to the Association of Southeast Asian Nations (ASEAN). Mr. Modi specifically mentioned about the broader canvass of India’s approach towards Indo-Pacific and India’s Act East Policy (AEP) where ASEAN plays a central role in the Summits and meetings that he attended in Singapore. The AEP and India’s approach to the Indo-Pacific seem to be complimentary to each other as both these policies reiterate about India’s reinvigorated involvement in the geo-strategic affairs of the wider construct of the Indo-Pacific. However, the question remains, whether the four-country Quad forum, which seems to be one of the visible outcomes of the construct of the Indo-Pacific, has been received well by the ASEAN countries….(for fulltext, please download AI-03)

Dr. Sampa Kundu is Assistant Professor, Symbiosis School of International Studies, India. She can be reached via: sampa.sun [at] gmail.com

AI-02 (Nov. 2018) — Whither India’s Northeast: Transition from Look East to Act East Policy

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Whither India’s Northeast: Transition from Look East to Act East Policy

By Smitana Saikia (Assistant Professor, FLAME University, India)

India’s northeast region (NER) comprises of eight small states with a diverse ethno-linguistic population. The region is strategically located sharing over 5,300 km of international borders with China, Nepal, Bhutan, Myanmar and Bangladesh. In early 1990s as a by-product of economic reforms, the Indian government aimed to foster increased economic integration and security cooperation with Southeast Asia as the latter came to be recognized as a key concern for India’s national interest. The northeast region was to be the gateway of this outreach and this outlook came to be known as the Look East Policy (LEP)….(for fulltext, please download AI-02)

Dr. Smitana Saikia is Assistant Professor of FLAME University, India. She can be reached via: smitana.saikia [at] flame.edu.in

AI-01 (Nov. 2018) — Modi’s Latest Visit to Japan: the Indo-Pacific as teh Template for Relations

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Modi’s Latest Visit to Japan: The Indo-Pacific as the Template for Relations

By Prashant Kumar Singh (Associate Fellow, Institute of Defense and Strategic Analysis, India)

Prime Minister Narendra Modi’s recent Japan visit from October 27-29, 2018, yet again reiterated that while terming India and Japan as “natural allies” may still be an over statement, describing them as “natural strategic partners,” might not be wholly off the mark. A review of this visit reinforces the view that the India-Japan “special strategic and global partnership” has a deeper meaning and greater significance, with notable implications, for the regional strategic landscape. Modi’s visit to Japan came hard on the heels of Prime Minister Shinzo Abe’s visit to China from October 25-27, 2018. Incidentally, Abe’s visit, the first by a Japanese prime minister since 2011, was perceived as marking a thaw in China-Japan relations. Therefore, the scheduling of Modi’s visit actually appeared to be conveying the message that mature relationships are not a zero sum game. It seemed to be highlighting the strength of the India-Japan strategic partnership. Officials though, do not confirm this inference…. (for fulltext, please downland AI-01)

Dr. Prashant Kumar is Associate Fellow of the Institute of Defense and Strategic Analysis, India. He can be reached via: prashant.idsa [at] gmail.com