Why in News ?
Indo-Pacific was the top focus at the first India-France-Australia trilateral dialogue. Indo-Pacific Cooperation Maritime Security a signal to China.
About the Trilateral Dialogue Key Areas
- Enhancing cooperation in the Indo-Pacific Region with France and Australia are India’s key partners in the Indo-Pacific region.
- Shangri-La Dialogue in Singapore in 2018 as a means of promoting the concept of Security and Growth for All in the Region – or SAGAR.
- Upcoming challenges in the context of Covid-19, including the financial impact of the pandemic on the Indian Ocean region countries.
- Enhancing maritime security cooperation between the three countries on key areas includes
- Humanitarian assistance and disaster relief
- Maritime domain awareness
- Mutual logistics support
- Capacity-building of friendly countries in the Indo-Pacific region.
- Challenges to Environment and Resources
- Blue economy
- Marine biodiversity and environmental challenges such as marine pollution
- Collaborating on sustainable fisheries
- Technologies for harvesting of Deep Ocean Resources
- Ocean Thermal Energy Conversion
- Initiatives such as the International Solar Alliance and Coalition for Disaster Resilient Infrastructure and the need for a reformed multilateralism.
Indo-Pacific Region
Where it lies :
- It is stretching from the west coast of the United States to the west coast of India
- The Indo-Pacific majorly consists of 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 region covers nearly 20% of the water on the earth’s surface.
Economic Corridor Possibilities
- Global economic growth have shifted to Asia now the Indo-Pacific that includes South Asia.
- As governments shift from an Asia-Pacific to Indo-Pacific conceptualisation of Asia, the functional
purpose of regionalism is therefore also shifting from economic to security objectives. - How can Economic Activities Achieve
- Building Indo-Pacific dialogue bodies for economic cooperation
- Negotiating new trade agreements that span across the Pacific and Indian oceans
- Supporting infrastructure and connectivity initiatives that can provide a foundation for deepening economic integration.
- Much of the world’s seaborne trade and two-thirds of global oil shipments currently traverse the broader Indo-Pacific arc.
Concern over the region
- Emerging security concerns are the primary factor behind the emergence of the Indo-Pacific concept.
- Growing threat from China and their agressive policies in the South China Sea are major concern.
- Manage territorial disputes in the South China Sea and beyond are seen as a concern.
About Shangri-La Dialogue
- inter-governmental security forum held annually by an independent think tank, the International Institute for Strategic Studies.
- Major attendees of the Dialogure are Defence minsters, Military Chief, legislators, academic experts, distinguished journalists and business delegates. from 28 Asia-Pacific states.
- Enhancement of defence diplomacy by participating countries, in part by inspiring similar forums in other regions.
About Security and Growth for All in the Region
- SAGAR is an Indian invention to increase maritime cooperation in the Indian Ocean region in line with the principles of Indian Ocean Rim Association.
- Aims for ensuring peace, stability and prosperity of India in Indian Ocean region.
- Trust, transparency and respect for international maritime rules and norms
- Sensitivity to other`s interests
- Peaceful resolution of maritime issues
Major powers in the region : Australia, India, Japan and the US have formally adopted the term Indo-Pacific into their foreign policy and/or defence strategies.
The Indo-Pacific provides an ideal framework within which India can take a role as a regional security actor befitting its size and regional importance.
Source : Indian Express
Topic
Prelims : About the Organisation and Region
GS II : Effect of policies and politics of developed and developing countries on India’s interests, Indian diaspora
Current Affairs Compilation : 11 September 2020