The Indo-Pacific Region: A New Theatre Of Global Diplomacy

In the contemporary world, oceans are seen as mental constructs that go beyond security into the realm of economy, politics, culture, and environment. Oceanic spaces are considered as new theatres of competition and power politics. Amongst various maritime theatres, the Indo-Pacific region has emerged as the key area of interest, attention, cooperation, and contestation.

Indo-Pacific Region

• The Indo-Pacific is a bio-geographic region of Earth’s seas, comprising the tropical waters of the Indian Ocean, the western and central Pacific Ocean, and the seas connecting the two in the general area of Indonesia. The Indo-Pacific region does not include the temperate and polar regions of the Indian and Pacific oceans and also excludes the Tropical Eastern Pacific, which lies along the Pacific coast of America, which is also a distinct marine realm.
• Acquisition of nuclear weapons capability in the region, presence of insurgency and terrorism, piracy, drug trafficking, unregulated migration, etc. makes this region volatile leaving external powers to intervene and attempt to extend their influence.

Significance of the Indo-Pacific Region

• Economic Growth: The Indo-Pacific’s vast drainage basin is home to around two billion people and provides opportunities of economic growth especially around the Indian Ocean rim. The huge market access as well as consumption pattern of these communities offers opportunity for increased trade and commerce which is reflected by regional groupings like BIMSTEC, Ganga-Mekong Cooperation, Indian Ocean Rim Association, etc.
  • Choke Points: It provides countries access to critical choke points which have an impact on country’s economic prosperity. Example: The closing of Malacca Strait, Strait of Hormuz would hinder the transport of oil towards India, China, Japan and other South East Asian countries.
• Marine Diversity: The region contains exceptionally high species richness and supports reef building corals. Thus, it is home to global marine ecosystems and source of sustainable seafood production especially for the coastal communities.
• Islands in IOR: The great Indian ridge, the Madagascar ridge and St Paul’s ridge form the three main chains of islands. These islands have strategic significance due to their location, proximity to trade routes and well developed harbours.
• Minerals: Various rare earth elements and metals like titanium, zirconium, tin, zinc, copper, etc. are found in the coastal sediments of Indian and Pacific Ocean.
• Extraction of monazite from beach sands and oil production through offshore deposits provides economic profitability.
• An estimated 40% of world’s offshore oil production comes from the Indian Ocean.

Emergence of the Indo-Pacific Region as a New Theatre of Global Diplomacy

Indo-Pacific has been the global strategic focal point. Global and regional powers such as USA, Russia, China, and India have been trying to gain influence in the Indo-Pacific.

• US Pivot to Asia: The US seeks greater engagement of its foreign policy, national security and economic interests towards Asia with the aim to contain the growing influence of China in the region. High level diplomatic visits, becoming an East Asia Summit member, renaming of the U.S Pacific Command to U.S Indo-Pacific Command, emergence of QUAD grouping are some of its initiatives.
• China’s Interests: China has increased its efforts to strengthen influence in the region and also to counter the American strategies and actions. It also maintain aggressive stance in ongoing disputes.
  • The Maritime Silk Road, along with One Belt One Road is part of China’s grand vision for the Indo-Pacific region.
  • It seeks to realign China’s geo-strategic position in the world, address domestic challenges of industrial overproduction as well as help China access the cheap labour markets of less developed economies.
• Russia: Russia has indicated clear intent for a more proactive role in the region. But Russia has viewed attempts to formulate a new rules-based Indo-Pacific order as a Western strategy to override international law. Russia’s Indo-Pacific opposition is based on the premise that it undermines the ASEAN centrality, with which Russia has intensified its engagement.
• India’s Interests: Prime Minister of India in the Shangri-La Dialogue 2018 underscored India’s vision of Indo-Pacific region through the lens of ‘Act East’ and ‘Look West’ policy.
  • The emphasis is on using existing institutions and frameworks for strengthening ocean governance, instead of creating new ones.
  • India’s economic security demands that all the Sea Lanes of Communication (SLOC) which represents the primary maritime routes between ports which are used for trade, logistics and naval operations leading to the Indian Ocean be kept open.
  • The presence of polymetallic nodules which contain Copper, Nickel, Cobalt, etc. is of strategic importance for India as it seeks to ramp up its metal production. Cobalt is also used to make batteries that can store energy from renewable sources including solar and wind.
  • India also seeks to counter the aggressive actions of China and its increasing influence in the Indian Ocean as it does not bode well for India’s security. Example: The shift of Hambantota port to China by Sri Lanka, combined with the doctrine of String of Pearls is worrying for India.

Possibilities and Prospects

The Indo-Pacific region with its vast potential of untapped resources and due to its strategic location is bound to become the new theatre of global diplomacy. For enhancing stability, safety, security, development, and well-being in the region and beyond, it is necessary that the countries continue to work on an appropriate and inclusive framework for cooperation including solving border disputes, trafficking, refugee crisis, addressing maritime pollution, promoting a rules-based world order and addressing issues related to climate changes.