Act East Policy

India's Act East Policy, initiated in 2014 is an evolution of the Look East Policy and is designed to bolster ties with ASEAN. It also seeks to extend engagement to include nations in the Far East. This shift marks a transition from passive observation to active participation in the East. The policy emphasizes connectivity, economic integration, security cooperation, and cultural exchanges. It serves as a counterbalance to China's influence, promotes infrastructure development, fosters maritime cooperation, and supports Southeast Asian integration. The key initiatives under this policy include the Asian Trilateral Highway, Kaladan Multi-Modal Transport Project, and initiatives like Vaccine Maitri during the Covid pandemic. India's proactive approach in multilateral forums of the region safeguards its interests and reinforces its geopolitical positioning.

In 1992, India initiated the Look East policy to respond to the shifting global economic power from the 'west' to the 'east' following the end of the Cold War. The primary objectives of this policy were to strategically enhance India's involvement with Southeast Asia, fortify its position as a regional power, and provide a counterbalance to China's strategic influence. The focus was on strengthening economic and commercial bonds between India and ASEAN nations. The "Act East Policy," introduced in 2014, represents an advancement of the Look East Policy. This diplomatic initiative aims to foster economic, strategic, and cultural relations with the expansive Asia-Pacific region on various fronts, including connectivity, trade, culture, defense, and people-to-people connections, at bilateral, regional, and multilateral levels. ASEAN is the "central pillar" of India's Act East Policy.

The primary objective of the Act East Policy is to improve connectivity among the Northeastern states and neighbouring countries. The policy has evolved to incorporate cultural, political, and strategic dimensions. It has established institutional frameworks for dialogue and collaboration. The Act East Policy places emphasis on ASEAN nations, economic integration, cooperation with East Asian countries, and security collaboration. This encompasses various sectors such as infrastructure development, manufacturing, trade, and the establishment of smart cities. The 4C's under Act East Policy are Culture, Connectivity, Commerce and Capacity Building.

• ASEAN countries: Central Pillar of the Policy
• Economic Integration: Establishment of Border Haats, Initiatives like Bay of Bengal Initiative for Multi-Sectoral Technical and Economic Cooperation (BIMSTEC) etc
• East Asian countries : ASEAN, Japan, Korea, Far East Policy
• Security cooperation: Defence cooperation, Collective Maritime exercises and Patrol with ASEAN countries, Signing of MoU for defence equipment(India-Vietnam MoU,2014)
• Connectivity: BBIN- MVA(Bangladesh, Bhutan, India, Nepal - Motor Vehicle Agreement), Corridor,Kaladan Multi-Modal Transport Project etc.
• Development of North-East region: It views NER as gateway to SouthEast Asia and Japan is spending Rs 13,000 crores on various projects in the region

• Unlike the Look East Policy, the Act East Policy places significant emphasis on connectivity programs like linking India's Northeast region with ASEAN countries.
• While the Look East Policy focused solely on trade and investment, the Act East Policy extends its focus beyond economic cooperation, incorporating a security dimension.
• In contrast to the Look East Policy, which emphasised on relations with Southeast Asian countries only, the Act East Policy expands its attention to include East Asian countries as well.
• Projects under Act East Policy: Asian Trilateral Highway(ATH), Kaladan Multi-Modal Transport Project(KMMTP), Agartala-Akhaura Rail Project(AARP), etc.
• Expanding Regional Presence: India under 'Act East Policy' became a participant in regional forums like the East Asia Summit (EAS), ASEAN Regional Forum (ARF) and became a dialogue partner of ASEAN in 1996.

• Counterbalance to China's Influence: The policy helps India in establishing a counterbalance to China's increasing influence in the region
• Infrastructure development: Such as connectivity projects, which can boost trade and economic integration in the region.
• Cultural and people-to-people exchanges: Promoting mutual understanding and strengthening ties at the grassroots level.
• New economic opportunities: By fostering trade, investment, and economic cooperation with countries in Southeast Asia
• Maritime cooperation: Including joint naval exercises and initiatives, promoting security and stability in the Indian Ocean and South China Sea
• Southeast Asian Integration: Supporting regional integration efforts and providing a platform for addressing common challenges.

• Connectivity: Asian Trilateral Highway(ATH), Kaladan Multi-Modal Transport Project(KMMTP), Mahabahu-Brahmaputra inland waterway program, Dhubri Phulbari bridge
• Vaccine Maitri: medical supplies to ASEAN nations during Covid Pandemic
• Refugee Settlement: Bru/Reang resettlement
• Infrastructure projects on National Waterways(NW-2, NW-16) in North Eastern Region (NER)
• Security: MILAN-Multinational Exercise, SIMBEX

India's Act East Policy has not lived up to its expected potential, mainly because of factors such as

• Growing influence of China in the region >
  • We are unable to match China's BRI ( Belt and Road Initiative)
  • Moreover ,the control of the Chinese diaspora in the economy of Malaysia, Indonesia and Singapore is considerable
• India's lack of initiatives on trade and investment in the South East Asian countries > For eg, India's decision to withdraw from the Regional Comprehensive Economic Partnership (RCEP) was a missed opportunity to integrate our economy with these nations
• Instability in North East and Myanmar > The instability in Manipur and Myanmar has added an additional challenge for our connectivity projects
• Rising tensions between India and China has diverted our attention from the policy as well

In 2014, India fortified its Look East Policy by introducing the 'Act East Policy,' which aimed to revitalize ties with ASEAN and extend engagement to include nations like the Koreas, Australia, New Zealand, Bangladesh, and those in the Far East. This move signifies a shift from passive observation to active participation and involvement in the East. India has also actively collaborated with multilateral organizations such as ASEAN, BIMSTEC, East Asia Summit, Mekong Ganga cooperation,etc, to align with its strategic interests in the region. This proactive approach serves as a counterbalance to China's assertiveness, allowing India to safeguard its interests. Continued efforts to build closer partnerships with regional and multilateral organizations are crucial for India's geopolitical positioning.