https://orcid.org/0000-0003-1183-3633
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ABSTRACT
India–Southeast Asia defence cooperation has not been highlighted much, primarily to not give out wrong signals about India’s power projection outlook. With India steadfastly maintaining that it is a benign nation and not a revisionist power, engagement in the defence domain with Association of Southeast Asian Nations (ASEAN) has been attempted in five ways. The first includes India’s engagement in ASEAN defence mechanisms, such as ASEAN Defence Ministers’ Meeting (ADMM) Plus; and the participation of ASEAN nations in the Milan series of biennial meetings and Indian Ocean Naval Symposium (IONS). The second dimension is India’s legitimate interest in the security of the Malacca Strait as a funnel state. The third dimension is developing synergies between the defence industries in Southeast Asia with the Indian defence industrial complex. The fourth angle of engagement is India’s position as the net security provider in the Indian Ocean Region (IOR). The fifth critical aspect is developing maritime cooperative mechanism and developing a counter to the Chinese “string of pearls” strategy.
Notes
1 “Plan of Action to Implement the ASEAN–India Partnership for Peace, Progress and Shared Prosperity (2021–2025),” 2020, 2–3, https://asean.org/storage/2020/09/ASEAN-India-POA-2021-2025-Final.pdf (accessed January 18, 2021).
2 Ibid.
3 Dipanjan Roy Chaudhury, “India, ASEAN Leaders Agree to Boost Maritime Cooperation,” The Economic Times, January 26, 2018, https://economictimes.indiatimes.com/news/defence/india-asean-leaders-agree-to-boost-maritime-cooperation/articleshow/62654982.cms?utm_source=contentofinterest&utm_medium=text&utm_campaign=cppst (accessed January 21, 2021).
4 Indian Navy, Ensuring Secure Seas: Indian Maritime Security Strategy (New Delhi: Integrated Headquarters, Ministry of Defence [Navy], 2015), p. 11.
5 “Chairman’s Statement, 1st Expanded ASEAN Maritime Forum Manila,” November 15, 2021, https://aic.ris.org.in/chairman%E2%80%99s-statement-1st-expanded-asean-maritime-forum-manila (accessed November 20, 2021).
6 With the onset of the Act East Policy, the India–ASEAN action plan of 2016–20 and the subsequent plan of 2021–25 have stressed on improving both physical and digital connectivity. The long-pending connectivity projects with Southeast Asia have received funds from Indian government and also strict timelines for completion.
7 Dipanjan Roy Chaudhury, “Eyeing Southeast Asia, India Builds Port in Indonesia,” The Economic Times, March 20, 2019, https://economictimes.indiatimes.com/news/defence/eyeing-southeast-asia-india-builds-port-in-indonesia/articleshow/68490478.cms?utm_source=contentofinterest&utm_medium=text&utm_campaign=cppst (accessed January 6, 2021).
8 Gregory Winger, “The Velvet Gauntlet: A Theory of Defense Diplomacy,” https://www.iwm.at/publications/5-junior-visiting-fellows-conferences/vol-xxxiii/the-velvet-gauntlet/ (accessed November 16, 2020).
9 “India Ready to Sell BrahMos, But Exports Remain Hostage to Concerns Over CAATSA,” The Wire, March 4, 2021, https://thewire.in/trade/india-brahmos-exports-hostage-russia-caatsa-sale (accessed December 2, 2021).
10 “Milan 2020: Indian Navy to Host Multi-Nation Military Drill,” January 9, 2020, https://www.gktoday.in/current-affairs/milan-2020-indian-navy-to-host-multi-nation-military-drill/ (accessed January 31, 2021).
11 Rezaul H. Laskar, “India Gifts a Submarine to Myanmar, Gains Edge over China,” Hindustan Times, October 21, 2020, https://www.hindustantimes.com/india-news/india-gifts-a-submarine-to-myanmar-gains-edge-over-china/story-fblOtZRy3hOaJDi6CKkjuK.html (accessed January 9, 2021).
12 Gitanjali Sinha Roy, “India–Myanmar Defence Convergences: Facilitating Cooperation and Stability,” Centre for Land Warfare Studies (CLAWS), October 20, 2020, https://www.claws.in/india-myanmar-defence-convergences-facilitating-cooperation-and-stability/ (accessed January 9, 2021).
13 Indrani Bagchi, “China Harasses Indian Naval Ship on South China Sea,” The Times of India, September 2, 2011, https://timesofindia.indiatimes.com/india/china-harasses-indian-naval-ship-on-south-china-sea/articleshow/9829900.cms (accessed December 3, 2021).
14 “PCA Press Release: The South China Sea Arbitration (The Republic of the Philippines v. The People’s Republic of China),” July 12, 2016, https://pca-cpa.org/en/news/pca-press-release-the-south-china-sea-arbitration-the-republic-of-the-philippines-v-the-peoples-republic-of-china// (accessed January 19, 2021).
15 Pankaj K. Jha, “India’s Defence Diplomacy in Southeast Asia,” Journal of Defence Studies 5, no. 1 (January 2011), https://idsa.in/jds/5_1_2011_IndiasDefenceDiplomacyinSoutheastAsia_pkjha (accessed December 3, 2021).
16 “India, Myanmar Sign Defence Cooperation Agreement,” The Economic Times, July 19, 2019, https://economictimes.indiatimes.com/news/defence/india-myanmar-sign-defence-cooperation-agreement/articleshow/70439116.cms?utm_source=contentofinterest&utm_medium=text&utm_campaign=cppst (accessed January 6, 2021).
17 Manish Shukla, “India-Myanmar Border Sees Consolidation of Insurgents,” DNA, October 8, 2020, https://www.dnaindia.com/india/report-india-myanmar-border-sees-consolidation-of-insurgents-2848369 (accessed December 3, 2021).
18 Jaideep Saikia, “Manipur Ambush: How Dragon’s Shadow over Northeast Changes Rules of Engagement and Turns Insurgency More Ominous,” November 16, 2021, https://www.firstpost.com/india/manipur-ambush-how-dragons-shadow-over-northeast-changes-rules-of-engagement-and-turns-insurgency-more-ominous-10140111.html (accessed December 2, 2021).
19 “India, Thailand to Strengthen Bilateral Defence Ties,” The Economic Times, July 13, 2018, https://economictimes.indiatimes.com/news/defence/india-thailand-to-strengthen-bilateral-defence-ties/articleshow/48858749.cms?utm_source=contentofinterest&utm_medium=text&utm_campaign=cppst (accessed December 3, 2021).
20 Daniel Brown, “These are the World's 7 Worst Aircraft Carriers that are Currently in Service,” September 6, 2018, https://www.businessinsider.in/defense/these-are-the-worlds-7-worst-aircraft-carriers-that-are-currently-in-service/articleshow/65693768.cms (accessed December 2, 2021).
21 Ibid.
22 Pankaj Jha and Rahul Mishra, “Defence Cooperation: A Case Study of India and Singapore,” Air Power Journal 5, no. 2 (Summer 2010): 73–96.
23 Pankaj K. Jha, “India’s Defence Diplomacy in Southeast Asia,” Journal for Defence Studies 5, no. 1 (January 2011): 50.
24 Ministry of Defence, “SIMBEX-2018–25 Glorious Years and Counting,” November 16, 2018, https://pib.gov.in/PressReleaseIframePage.aspx?PRID=1553037#:~:text=After%20an%20intense%20sea%20phase,arrived%20Visakhapatnam%20on%2016%20November (accessed May 31, 2020).
25 Prashanth Parameswaran, “Why the New India–Singapore Naval Pact Matters,” The Diplomat, November 30, 2017, https://thediplomat.com/2017/11/why-the-new-india-singapore-naval-pact-matters/ (accessed January 14, 2021).
26 Snehesh Alex Philip, “India’s Artillery Modernisation Programme Must Not Go the Vaccine Way,” The Print, June 4, 2021, https://theprint.in/opinion/brahmastra/indias-artillery-modernisation-programme-must-not-go-the-vaccine-way/671460/ (accessed December 1, 2021).
27 “7 RSAF Aircraft Heading for Training in India Diverted due to Technical Issue with F-16,” Today, November 2019, https://www.todayonline.com/singapore/7-rsaf-aircraft-lands-port-blair-india-due-technical-issue-f-16 (accessed January 13, 2021).
28 Ministry of Defence, “13th India–Vietnam Defence Security Dialogue,” January 12, 2021, https://pib.gov.in/PressReleasePage.aspx?PRID=1687915 (accessed January 14, 2021).
29 Authors’ interaction with Vietnam’s defence attaché in September 2016.
30 Suseela Devi Chandran, “Malaysia–India Defence Cooperation: Need for a Paradigm Shift Before Strategic Partnership,” Strategic Analysis 38, no. 1 (2014): 79–90.
31 S. Anandan, “Malaysia’s Scorpene-Class Submarine to Call at Kochi,” The Hindu, August 16, 2009, https://www.thehindu.com/news/national/Malaysiarsquos-Scorpene-class-submarine-to-call-at-Kochi/article16875287.ece (accessed December 2, 2021).
32 Manu Pubby, “India, Malaysia to Deepen Defence Ties, Set Up Su 30 Forum,” The Economic Times, July 12, 2018, https://economictimes.indiatimes.com/news/defence/india-malaysia-to-deepen-defence-ties-set-up-su-30-forum/articleshow/49899463.cms?from=mdr (accessed December 2, 2021).
33 Jeff Smith, “India and the Philippines: A New Chapter in Defense Ties?” The Diplomat, January 9, 2020, https://thediplomat.com/2020/01/india-and-the-philippines-a-new-chapter-in-defense-ties/ (accessed December 2, 2021).
34 Kamaljit Kaur Sandhu, “NIA Interrogates Dreaded ISIS Female Recruiter Karen Aisha Hamidon in Manila,” India Today, https://www.indiatoday.in/india/story/nia-isis-recruiter-karen-aisha-hamidon-manila-philippines-1225980-2018-05-03 (accessed December 2, 2021).
35 Dipanjan Roy Chaudhary, “India Strengthens Counter Terror Ties with Philippines after Church Attacks,” The Economic Times, January 30, 2019, https://economictimes.indiatimes.com/news/defence/india-strengthens-counter-terror-ties-with-phipplines-after-church-attacks/articleshow/67756981.cms?from=mdr (accessed December 2, 2021).
36 Kamaljit Kaur Sandhu, “NIA Interrogates Dreaded ISIS.”
37 Indian Navy, Ensuring Secure Seas, p. 11.
38 Ibid.
39 “Milan 2020: Indian Navy.”
40 Gautam Mukhopadhay, “Indonesian President’s Visit to India: A Visit of Strategic Significance,” November 25, 2016, https://idsa.in/specialfeature/indonesian-president-visit-to-india_gmukhopadhaya_251116 (accessed January 11, 2021).
41 Ministry of Defence, “ICG Co-Hosts 12th ReCAAP ISC Capacity Building Workshop in Capital from June 19,” June 18, 2019, https://pib.gov.in/PressReleasePage.aspx?PRID=1574851 (accessed January 23, 2021).
42 Pintu Kumar Mahla, “India’s Maritime Engagement with ASEAN,” October 29, 2020, https://thekootneeti.in/2020/10/29/indias-maritime-engagement-with-asean/ (accessed January 15, 2021).
43 “Coast Guard Signs Pact with Asian Countries for Cooperation in Maritime Search, Rescue,” The Hindu, December 30, 2020, https://www.thehindu.com/news/cities/Mangalore/coast-guard-signs-pact-with-asian-countries-for-cooperation-in-maritime-search-rescue/article33450146.ece (accessed November 19, 2021).
44 Ministry of Defence, “RM's Statement at 4th ASEAN Defence Ministers’ Meeting Plus (ADMM PLUS),” https://mod.gov.in/sites/default/files/RMADMM.pdf (accessed November 19, 2021).
45 Aanchal Nigam, “India-Vietnam Hold 13th Defence Security Dialogue to Review Progress in Cooperation,” RepublicWorld.com, January 12, 2021, https://www.republicworld.com/india-news/general-news/india-vietnam-hold-13th-defence-security-dialogue-to-review-progress-in-cooperation.html (accessed November 29, 2021).
46 Embassy of India, Bangkok, “Defence Minister of India Visits Thailand,” June 6, 2013, https://embassyofindiabangkok.gov.in/listview/NjU (accessed January 15, 2021).
Additional information
Notes on contributors
Pankaj K. Jha
Pankaj K. Jha is a professor at Jindal School of International Affairs, O.P. Jindal Global University, Sonipat, Haryana.
Quach Thi Hue
Quach Thi Hue is a lecturer at Institute of International Relations, Ho Chi Minh National Academy of Politics, Vietnam.