INDIA’S LOOKING EAST POLICY

RESEARCH PROJECT SUBMITTED IN PARTIAL FULFILMENT OF THE COURSE POLITICAL SCIENCE

SUBMITTED TO – PROF. SP SINGH

SUBMITTED BY – MR. ANURAG CHAUHAN

ROLL NO. – 1918

BA LLB

1
 TABLE OF CONTENTS

ACKNOWLEDGEMENT ................................................................................................................................... 2
INTRODUCTION .............................................................................................. Error! Bookmark not defined.
HISTORICAL BACKGROUND ........................................................................................................................... 3
INDIA’S LOOK EAST POLICY ........................................................................................................................... 5
SHIFT FROM LOOK EAST POLICY TO ACT EAST POLICY ................................................................................. 9
INDIA'S ACT EAST POLICY(OR LOOKING EAST POLICY) ............................................................................... 10
CONCLUSION.................................................................................................. Error! Bookmark not defined.
BIBLIOGRAPHY ............................................................................................................................................ 16

ACKNOWLEDGEMENT

I take this opportunity to express my profound gratitude and deep regards to my guide and
professor SP Singh for his exemplary guidance, monitoring and constant encouragement
throughout the course of this thesis. The blessing, help and guidance given by her time to
time shall carry me a long way in the journey of life on which I am about to embark.

I am obliged to staff members of Chanakya National Law University, for the valuable
information provided by them in their respective fields. I am grateful for their cooperation
during the period of my assignment.

Lastly, I thank Almighty and my parents, brother, sisters and friends for their constant
encouragement without which this assignment would not be possible.

Anurag Chauhan

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 1. INTRODCUTION

India's Look East policy is an effort to cultivate extensive economic and strategic relations
with the nations of Southeast Asia in order to bolster its standing as a regional power and a
counterweight to the strategic influence of the People's Republic of China. This policy was
initiated by our Prime Minister Narsimha Rao in 1991, it marked a strategic shift in India’s
perspective of the world. 1 The policy of Look East Policy was further pursued by the
successive administrations of Atal Bihari Vajepayee and Manhoman Singh. The current
government of Narendra Modi has taken the India’s Look East Policy to a next level, now
this policy is known as Act East Policy. So, India’s Looking East Policy is now known as Act
East Policy after the changes introduced in it during the current government’s regime. India’s
Act East Policy was unveiled at the 12th ASEAN-India Summit in 2014 held in Nay Pyi
Taw. In his Opening Statement on the occasion, Modi said: “A new era of economic
development, industrialization and trade has begun in India. Externally, India's 'Look East
Policy' has become 'Act East Policy’."2

2. HISTORICAL BACKGROUND

Throughout its history, merchants and missionaries from India has introduced new beliefs
and ideas in Southeast Asia, leaving a significant mark in the region. Today, India’s influence
remains are visible in the ancient relics and Hindu temples as well as the diaspora
communities that are spread throughout the area.

India’s Look East policy was initiated out of failure: the failure of India’s Cold War strategy
of ‘playing both ends against the middle’ while at the same time attempting to adopt a pro-
Soviet ‘tilt’; and the failure of India’s command economy, which by 1990 had managed to
command only 0.4 per cent of world trade – insufficient to cushion India from the 1989-90
oil shock. While the collapse of the Soviet Union was no fault of India, it left New Delhi

1
Thongkholal Haokip, "India’s Look East Policy: Its Evolution and Approach," South Asian Survey, Vol. 18, No. 2
(February 2019), pp. 239-257.
2
Opening Statement by Prime Minister at the 12th India-ASEAN Summit, Nay Pyi Taw, Myanmar(16th February,
2019),
http://mea.gov.in/aseanindia/SpeechStatementASEM.htm?dtl/22566/Opening+Statement+by+Prime+Ministe
r+at+the+12th+IndiaASEAN+Summit+Nay+Pyi+Taw+Myanmar

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searching for an alternative set of economic and strategic approaches. The ‘Look East’ policy
seemed to fit both needs.3

Aside from the economic reforms initiated during his Prime Ministership, P.V. Narasimha
Rao will be credit for the `Look East' policy he launched in the second half of his tenure. It
was during his stewardship that India recognised and revived its links with South-East Asia.
The benefits of his tilt towards the Association of South East Asian Nations (ASEAN) was
reaped by the subsequent United Front Government, headed first by H.D. Deve Gowda and
then by I.K. Gujral.4

Though a series of visits to the ASEAN countries — stretching from Singapore and Malaysia
to Thailand and Vietnam — Mr. Rao established what ASEAN leaders called "instant
personal chemistry" with him. Be it Singapore's Mentor Minister, Lee Kuan Yew, or the then
Premier, Goh Chok Tong, the then Malaysian Prime Minister, Mahathir Mohamad, or the
Vietnamese leaders, there was nothing but admiration for the way Mr. Rao led India out of
the deep financial crisis in 1991 to emerge as one of the dynamic economies of Asia and the
world. Leaders and diplomats alike felt that his stint as External Affairs Minister had
provided him the insight and vision to look beyond the shores and revive historical and
cultural links with the East to convert them into an economic and trade partnership. Analysts
in that region were never tired of pointing out the historical cycle — India as an Asian leader
under Jawaharlal Nehru in the 1950s, when most of East and South-East Asia gained
independence and liberty; the complete neglect of the East when Indira Gandhi was at the
helm; and a revival of interest under Mr. Rao. After becoming a sectoral dialogue partner of
the ASEAN in 1992, India graduated to a full-fledged dialogue partner in 1997 and became a
summit partner in 2001. There has been no looking back since then. 5

As I. K. Gujral said in one of his speeches in 1996,every aspect of India's ethos reflects the
"footprints of South-East Asia." But "the forcesof history and circumstances intermittently
disturbed this closeness. Colonialism and the Cold War, despite our efforts to come together,
drew artificial boundaries between us."6

3
Sandy Gordon, India ‘Looks East’ as history,EASTASIAFORUM((16th February, 2019,
http://www.eastasiaforum.org/2010/07/17/india-looks-east-as-history/
444
V. Jayanth,Narasimha Rao, and the `Look East' policy, The Hindu, published on 24 Dec, 2004,
https://www.thehindu.com/2004/12/24/stories/2004122407541200.htm
5
Ibid
6
Sisir Gupta. India and Regional Integration in Asia. Bombay: Asia publishing House, 1964" Statement by I. K.
Gujral, Minister of External Affairs and Water Resources, Government of India.

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Atal Bihari Vajepayee also made significant contributions to the India’s Look East Policy.
Besides elevating India’s relations with Japan to a strategic level, he gave a new impetus to
India’s ‘Look East Policy’ to build closer ties with countries in South-East Asia and East
Asia.7

3. INDIA’S LOOK EAST POLICY

Objectives of the India’s Look East Policy:-
Under the Look East policy, four broad objectives have been pursued in the several
years since its initiation. The major priority areas of the Look East policy are
discussed below.
Regional Integration: The main objective of the Look East policy is economic
integration with East and Southeast Asia. India realized that its East Asian neighbours
achieved rapid economic growth and that it was lagging behind. Enthralled by the
East Asian economic miracle, the Indian elite came to realize that the East Asian open
economic system could be a model for its own development strategy. Thus, New
Delhi wanted to expand ties with these high-performing economies with the aim of
getting integrated into the process of economic regionalization in East Asia.
According to G.V.C. Naidu, India adopted a three-pronged approach in its attempt to
forge regional cooperation through the Look East Policy. They are:
1. To renew political contacts with the ASEAN member nations.
2. To increase economic interaction with Southeast Asia (trade, investments,
science and technology and tourism)
3. To forge defence links with several countries of this region as a means to
strengthen political understanding (Naidu 1996: 83).8
Reform and Liberalization: Though the Look East policy is a by-product of India’s
economic reform and liberalization in 1991, the policy seeks further reforms to
liberalize trade and investment in order to forge deeper economic integration with
East and Southeast Asian countries. Thus, India seeks to lower trade barriers and
liberalizes the investment regime. India has signed a framework agreement during the
Bali Summit in 2003 to create a Free Trade and Investments Area with ASEAN by

http://www. asean. org/4338htm

7
,Major Achievements of Atal jee as Prime Minister, Shri Atal Bihari Vajpayee
Digital Archive, http://ataljee.org/about-ataljee-achievements.html
8
Javid Ahmad Mir,India’s” Look East” Policy: Its Evolution, objectives and Approaches,Pen2Print(18 February,
2019, 5:55 PM) https://www.pen2print.org/2017/04/indias-look-east-policy-its-evolution.html

5
 2016. Since 2003, India, ASEAN and individual ASEAN member countries have
agreed to and begun negotiations on FTAs after signing the Framework Agreement on
Comprehensive Economic Cooperation. India and ASEAN agreed to implement an
FTA for the ASEAN–5 by 2011 and for all ASEAN member countries by 2016. The
Framework Agreement announced an early harvest programme of immediate
deliverables and unilateral trade preferences by India in favour of the least developed
members of the grouping. Till date, India has concluded a Comprehensive Economic
Cooperation Agreement with Singapore in 2005. India has also entered into a number
of pacts with Thailand and Singapore. The ASEAN-India Free Trade Agreement was
signed in August 2009 with the 10 members of ASEAN.
Rapid Economic Growth: In the aftermath of India’s liberalization, the Look East
policy become more than just a foreign policy alternative as it provided a
development alternative as well, in synchronization with the globalization and the
resurgence of Asia as an economic powerhouse. To quote Prime Minister Manmohan
Singh: ‘it was also a strategic shift in India’s vision of the world and India’s place in
the evolving global economy’. It is only with the formulation of the Look East policy
in 1991 that India started giving East and Southeast Asian region due importance in
the foreign policy planning. Thus, tapping East Asia’s growth was an important cause
for India’s engagement with the East Asian economies. When the Indian economy
started growing at a high rate from the late 1990s, India has increasingly turned its
focus to sustained rapid growth. Strong economic ties with East Asia would position
India well for accessing growth opportunities in Asia. India is also encouraging East
Asian investment in the transport, communications and power sectors to keep pace
with its expanding economy. India believes East Asia holds a key to India’s sustained
economic growth, particularly when international economic activities are becoming
more critical to India’s own growth and other regions are growing at a much slower
pace and becoming more protectionists.9
Development of the North-eastern Region: The Look East policy is also a means of
reducing India’s internal development disparity. The North-eastern states lag behind
in economic development and this gap has widened since independence. The sense of
neglect has resulted in various forms of unrest in the region. With the launch of the
Look East policy, India sees the region not as cul-de-sac but as a gateway to the East,

9
Supra Note 8

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 thereby attempting to link the North-eastern region with Southeast Asia through a
network of pipelines, road, and rail and air connectivity. This is expected to initiate
economic development and help the eight North-eastern states to develop
infrastructure, communication, trade, investment, logistics, agro-business and other
commercial activities. Knowing fully well the potential, the North-eastern states
strongly support the Look East policy. Indeed, the Look East policy is believed to be
the new mantra for development of the North-eastern region.10
Approaches of the India’s “Look East” Policy:-
Geographical Focus:-
Since the early 1990s, India started focusing on economic cooperation with the East
and Southeast Asian countries. This geographical shift in focus area was primarily
due to the success of the East Asian economies, especially the Asian tigers. India
initially chose to focus on the ASEAN countries because the ASEAN members were
the first to respond favorably to India’s Look East policy. In 2003, the scope of
India’s Look East policy was widened to include the East Asian countries. This was
reflected in Foreign Minister Yashwant Sinha’s lecture at Harvard University in 2003:
‘The first phase of India’s “Look East” policy was ASEAN centered and focused
primarily on trade and investment linkages. The new phase of this policy is
characterized by an expanded definition of “East”, extending from Australia to East
Asia, with ASEAN at its core’. (Sinha 2003) Comprehensive Economic Partnership
Agreement between India and Korea has been finalized and negotiations are
underway with Japan. India and China also have a joint study group evaluating the
potential for a bilateral FTA.
Sub-regional Cooperation:-
India’s focus on sub-regional economic cooperation such as Bay of Bengal Multi-
Sectoral Technical and Economic Cooperation (BIMSTEC), Mekong Ganga
Cooperation (MGC) and Bangladesh–China–India–Myanmar Regional Economic
Forum (BCIM Forum) is with a view to reinforce the Look East policy and boost the
development of the North-eastern region. The main aim of these groupings is to create
an enabling environment for rapid economic development through identification and
implementation of specific cooperation projects in trade and investment, industry,

10
Supra Note 8

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 technology, human resource development, tourism, agriculture, energy, infrastructure,
technology, transport and communications, energy and fisheries.
Free Trade Agreements:-
Frustration with the slow pace of World Trade Organization (WTO) negotiations
among prominent trading nations and the fear of being marginalized in a world in
which economic regionalism is growing, India is now looking towards East Asia for
economic cooperation. In its quest for economic regionalism, India chose FTA
negotiations as a means to get involved in and shape the course of its economic
integration with East Asia. India embarked on bilateral FTA negotiations with
individual ASEAN members because bilateral negotiations present an easier path to
advancing the FTA negotiations. India has entered into a number of pacts and FTAs
with Thailand and Singapore. There were plans to create a free trade area with Brunei,
Indonesia, Thailand, Singapore and Malaysia by 2011 and with the remaining
ASEAN countries—the Philippines, Cambodia, Laos, Myanmar and Vietnam—by
2016. The ASEAN–India Free Trade Agreement was signed in August 2009 with the
10 members of ASEAN. India is also negotiating with Japan and South Korea, which
would lead to an eventual East Asia–India FTA.11
IMPACT:-
The Look East policy of India emerged out of the changed international system in the
early 1990s and economic stagnation and political turmoil within the country. The
impact of look east policy has been favorable to India. International trade of goods
and services is now a strong driver of India’s growth rising from 17 percent of gross
domestic product in 1991 to 42 percent in 2004. East Asia accounts for a significant
part of the rise in India’s foreign trade, India’s trade with East Asia had been less than
10 percent of India’s international trade in the early 1990s. it is now stands 25percent.
The current phase of the Look East policy marks the beginning of a vibrant
relationship on the economic, political and strategic fronts. The economic potentials
of this policy emphasize a link to the economic interests of the North-eastern region
of India as a whole. In recent years, the development of this region is being factored
into the overall strategy of national development, as well as in the conduct of India’s
relations with other countries. India’s Look East policy correctly identifies Northeast
India as the gateway to the East and it is one major initiative undertaken by the

11
Supra Note 8

8
 government of India in the present times. The Look East Policy is changing into Act
East Policy while emphasizing on a proactive role of India in this region. Mutual
trade, more export items, cultural exchanges, and mutual visits and other diplomatic
exchanges are on their way in relations to one another.12

4. SHIFT FROM LOOK EAST POLICY TO ACT EAST POLICY

Narendra Modi shaped the Act Policy (India’s Looking East Policy) after two decades of the
formation of Look East Policy by Narsimha Rao. India’s Look East Policy failed to some
extent due to many factors but how can we conclude wheather the current policy will be
successful or not, During the 1990s, Rao’s powerful idea was a new beginning, but failed to
take root because of domestic political factors, hiccups with liberalisation and the sore lack of
connectivity. Since then, the ASEAN has changed and so has India, in the 20-odd years of
economic reforms. In the 1990s, there was little that India could offer the ASEAN. Today,
India offers an emerging market, there are better products, innovation, services and tourism is
getting out of the boondocks. Act East will gather momentum because there is greater
connectivity, prospect of trade, market and exchange of information. Export-oriented
ASEAN will look at India because of India’s emerging market and quality services. Act East
will gather momentum because there is greater connectivity, prospect of trade, market and
exchange of information. Export-oriented ASEAN will look at India because of India’s
emerging market and quality services.13

In tandem, India has also embraced a proactive diplomacy, courting ASEAN members,
Vietnam to Myanmar, stringing the Indic-arc in the ASEAN. India has pushed for the
realisation of the 2,000-km-long India-Myanmar-Thailand Trilateral Highway (in 2020).
Much of this, as Modi emphasised, has come without India’s ‘claims’ with respect to the
ASEAN—economic or territorial. This, again, is a powerful message.14

America, too, has re-jigged the earlier notion of American ‘pivot’ in Asia to ‘re-balance’
(2013) to a ‘free and open Indo-Pacific’ (2017). The notion of Indo-Pacific may be broad, not

12
Supra Note 8
13
Anurag Viswanath,Why ‘Act East’ will work when ‘Look East’ did not, Financial Express(20th February, 2018,
06:33PM),https://www.financialexpress.com/opinion/why-act-east-will-work-when-look-east-did-
not/1048663/
14
Ibid

9
covering just East Asia and Australia, but also the Middle-East where, with respect to
Pakistan and Afghanistan, India can be a bulwark.

The vision of Indo-Pacific may also have to do with China’s blue-water navy and supposedly
breaching the ‘First Island Chain’ (beginning Japan archipelago through the Philippines
archipelago), making friends across the ‘Second Island Chain’ (beginning Guam) with China
sprouting Friendship stores as far as Suva (Fiji) and Apia (Samoa). Incidentally, Modi visited
Fiji, the first visit by an Indian PM in 33 years, and Australia, the first in 28 years.15

Act East is likely to benefit as India and ASEAN are on the same page—ASEAN members
are aligned with India on the freedom of navigation and binding code of conduct for parties in
the South China Sea.

In the recent past, several ASEAN members, notably the Philippines and Vietnam, have not
taken well to historical claims and construction activities in the South China Sea, such as
airports and runways. Much of the claims are contentious and debatable. This resulted in the
Philippines taking the issue to The Hague, which ruled in favour of the Philippines.16

Thus, there are many factors which indicate that India’s Act East will be successful.

5. INDIA’S ACT EAST POLICY (OR LOOKING EAST POLICY)

India's Act East Policy focusses on the extended neighbourhood in the Asia-Pacific
region. The policy which was originally conceived as an economic initiative, has gained
political, strategic and cultural dimensions including establishment of institutional
mechanisms for dialogue and cooperation. India has upgraded its relations to strategic
partnership with Indonesia, Vietnam, Malaysia, Japan, Republic of Korea (ROK),
Australia, Singapore and Association of Southeast Asian Nations (ASEAN) and forged
close ties with all countries in the Asia-Pacific region. Further, apart from ASEAN,
ASEAN Regional Forum (ARF) and East Asia Summit (EAS), India has also been
actively engaged in regional fora such as Bay of Bengal Initiative for Multi-Sectoral
Technical and Economic Cooperation (BIMSTEC), Asia Cooperation Dialogue (ACD),
Mekong Ganga Cooperation (MGC) and Indian Ocean Rim Association (IORA). Act East
Policy has placed emphasis on India-ASEAN cooperation in our domestic agenda on
infrastructure, manufacturing, trade, skills, urban renewal, smart cities, Make in India and

15
Ibid
16
Ibid

10
 other initiatives. Connectivity projects, cooperation in space, S&T and people-to-people
exchanges could become a springboard for regional integration and prosperity. 17

The Objective of ''Act East Policy” is to promote economic cooperation, cultural ties and
develop strategic relationship with countries in the Asia-Pacific region through
continuous engagement at bilateral, regional and multilateral levels thereby providing
enhanced connectivity to the States of North Eastern Region including Arunanchal
Pradesh with other countries in our neighbourhood. The North East of India has been a
priority in our Act East Policy (AEP). AEP provides an interface between North East
India including the state of Arunachal Pradesh and the ASEAN region. Various plans at
bilateral and regional levels include steady efforts to develop and strengthen connectivity
of Northeast with the ASEAN region through trade, culture, people-to-people contacts
and physical infrastructure (road, airport, telecommunication, power, etc.). Some of the
major projects include Kaladan Multi-modal Transit Transport Project, the India-
Myanmar-Thailand Trilateral Highway Project, Rhi-Tiddim Road Project, Border Haats,
etc. 18

The ASEAN-India Plan of Action for the period 2016-20 has been adopted in August
2015 which identifies concrete initiatives and areas of cooperation along the three pillars
of political-security, economic and socio-cultural. India continues with stepped up efforts
to forge closer partnership with concerned regional and Multilateral organisation such as
ASEAN, ARF, EAS, BIMSTEC, ACD, MCG and IORA. On the Civilizational front,
Buddhist and Hindu links could be energized to develop new contacts and connectivity
between people. On Connectivity, special efforts are being made to develop a coherent
strategy, particularly for linking ASEAN with our North East. Measures, including
building transport infrastructure, encouraging airlines to enhance connectivity in the
region, contacts between academic and cultural institutions are underway. Our economic
engagement with ASEAN has been stepped up – regional integration and implementation
of projects are priorities. The ASEAN-India Agreement on Trade in Service and
Investments has entered into force for India and seven ASEAN countries from 1 July
2015. The ASEAN-India Trade Negotiating Committee has been tasked to undertake a
review of the ASEAN-India Trade in Goods Agreement. India has also invited ASEAN

17
Act East Policy, Press Information Bureau Government of India Ministry of External
Affairshttp://pib.nic.in/newsite/PrintRelease.aspx?relid=133837
18
Ibid

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 member states to participate in the International Solar Alliance which it has co-launched
with France on 30 November 2015 at COP-21. On strategic issues, we have increasing
convergence on security interests with key partners both in bilateral and multilateral
format. Closer cooperation in combating terrorism, collaborating for peace and stability in
the region and promotion of maritime security based on international norms and laws are
being pursued.19

India has completed its 25th anniversary of ASEAN-India Relations. At the 9th Delhi
Dialogue with Asean, India’s foreign minister Sushma Swaraj described the future focus
of India-Asean cooperation in terms of three C’s – Commerce, Connectivity and Culture.

EAST ASIA SUBMIT(EAS)– Previously, there were 16 countries and now there are
18 countries after USA and Russia joined it at the South EAS in 2011. India is also
one of its member and it also attends the Summit. Most of the Summits are related to
mutual economic trade and military ties.
BIMSTEC(Bay of Bengal Initiative For Multi-Sectorial Technical and Economic
Cooperation):- It consists of 7 countries – Bnagladesh, India, Myanmar, Srilanka,
Thailand, Bhutan, and Nepal. These are those countries which are the periphery of
the Bay of Bengal.The motive is indicated in its name only as the member countries
intend to promote their multi-sectorial technical and economic cooperation. So, India
is also asserting itself into BIMSTEC.
Mekong-Ganga Cooperation (MGC)- MGC was established on November 10,
2000, at Vientiane at the First MGC Ministerial Meeting. It compromises the member
countries, namely India, Thailand, Myanmar, Cambodia, Laos and Vietnam.
Malabar Exercises is conducted by US ,India and Japan in the South China Sea, there
is a possibility that Australia is going to join this exercise. Everyone knows that the
motive is to tackle China but it cannot be directly said. Similarly MGC is also set up
to tackle China. Mekong is river which originates from the Tibetean Pleatue in China
and flows downwards to Thailand, Myanmar, Cambodia, Laos and Vietnam. China
recently built 6 dams on the Mekong river so, that it can store the water of the river
from flowing to the other countries. So, the flow of water to these countries is
controlled to an extent as China is at an advantage. So, MGC is about more
cooperation in water sharing and also in trade and commerce.

19
Supra Note 17

12
INDIAN OCEAN RIM ASSOCIATION (IORA)- Seychelles, Mauritius and Sri
Lanka form a periphery in the Indian Ocean. Seychelles is a very small island in
Indian Ocean with a population of less than 5,00,000. For the first time Indian Prime
Minister has went to Seychelles. Seychelles can act as a military base for India.
Recently China has established a military base in Djibouti which is in the Africa.
Similary, India also needs to be assertive in its approach towards expanding its
military base. Narendra Modi visited Seychelles, Mauritius and Sri Lanka in a single
tour which is known as Grand Indian Ocean Tour. Now, Mauritius is very important
for us because through Mauritius 50-55% FDI in India comes through the Mauritius
Route. China is making lot of strategic gains in Sri Lanka and as we all know that Sri
Lanka is at a strategic location in Indian Ocean and China is a Locked country with
respect to connectivity to Europe and that’s why China has started One Belt One Road
Initiative. If we make good relations with Sri Lanka and dominate the Indian Ocean
we can easily keep cut off the China supply in Indian Ocean. That is why the Indian
Ocean will be the next big thing in the World Politics and the experts say that the
country which will dominate the Indian Ocean will rule the world for the next 25
years. So, that’s why India is asserting itself into ICRA policy.
BANGLADESH, CHINA, INDIA AND MYANMAR-ECONOMIC
CORRIDOR(BCIM-EC)
Now, the inactive project of the common road that begins from Kolkata transverses
Bangladesh , then Myanmar and then finally ends in Kunning in China. This road
will give access to North Eastern City to the sea which will bring more trade and
tourism.
Kaladan Multi-Modal Transit Transport Project :- The Kaladan Multi-Modal
Transit Transport Project is a US$484 million project connecting the eastern Indian
seaport of Kolkata with Sittwe seaport in Rakhine State, Myanmar by sea. In
Myanmar, it will then link Sittwe seaport to Paletwa in Chin State via the Kaladan
river boat route, and then from Paletwa by road to Mizoram state in Northeast India.
Originally, the project was scheduled to be completed by 2014, but is expected to be
operational only by 2019-2020 as all components of the project, including Sittwe port
and power, river dredging, Paletwa jetty, have been completed, except the under
construction Zorinpui-Paletwaa road, construction of which commenced in April 2018
.

13
 The route of the project around Paletwa and along the Kaladan river is troubled with
Chin conflict, Rohingya conflict and militant groups such as Arakan Army and
Arakan Rohingya Salvation Army (ARSA). Among these the ARSA, created by
Pakistan's Lashkar-e-Toiba and has links with Jamaat-ul-Mujahideen in Bangladesh
and the Indian Mujahideen in India, was behind the mass killing of Hindu Burmese
Indians in the Kha Maung Seik massacre.20
PART OF STRATEGY TO COUNTER STRING OF PEARLS:-
China is trying to build its ports all around India. It has a built ports in Gwadar,
Hambantota court, ports in Bangladesh so, India will be surrounded by the ports of
China which will be soon converted into military bases of China. So, India should
strengthen its ties with the South Eastern countries to counter the Strings of Pearl of
China. India needs to strengthen its military cooperation with the enemies of China
like South Korea, US, Phillipines, Japan, Vietnam, etc. For example Vietnam has
been asking for missiles from India for a long time and it’s only in 2017 that we
agreed to give some missiles to Vietnam. India has agreed to sell the missiles like
Akash, Brahmos and small nave ships to Vietnam not bullied by China.
Some important things for Act East Policy :-
1. Australia agreed for the first time for Uranium shipment to India in a nuclear
deal. Australia- India coopration is increasing. Further Australia could also
become a participant in Malabar Exercise.
2. India had invited Head of Śtate of ASEAN countries on our Republic Day in
2018.
3. India has signed an agreement to Bangladesh, it would sell electricity to
Bangladesh and Adani Group has been the permission for coal mining. This has
really benefitted India in terms of ties with Bangladesh.
4. India has approved a loan of USD 318 Million for Sri Lankan Railways. Modi
visited Sri Lanka in 2015 , it was after 28 years that any Indian Prime Minister
visited Sri Lanka. China has already made immense strategic gains with Sri
Lanka.
5. Assam has invited ASEAN countries to open their consulates in Guwahati.

20
Pritam Ranjan Ghosh, India starts construction of ₹1,600-cr Mizoram-Myanmar Kaladan road, Business
Line(26 February, 2019, 08:14 PM)https://www.thehindubusinessline.com/news/india-starts-construction-of-
1600-cr-mizoram-myanmar-kaladan-road/article23577107.ece

14
 6. Shinzo Abe’s re-election is a positive sign for India as Abe is very vocal in
criticism of China.
7. Nepal has cancelled its Budhi Gandaki Dam project with China. Myanmar had
decided to cancel the Myitsone dam project with China. So, there are certain
Anti- China sentiments which India could benefit of. 21

6. CONCLUSION

The project shows that India’s Act East policy has led to its growing involvement in the
Bay of Bengal, especially in the field of maritime affairs It has also led India to
acknowledge its security responsibilities. More generally, India’s recent advancement in
maritime domain awareness, its interests in enhancing joint patrols and humanitarian
assistance and disaster relief(HADR) cooperation, as well as its efforts to contribute to the
maritime security of its neighbours, including through weapon transfers, reflect that India
is in a nascent positioning as a net security provider, or at least is in an attempt to
progress along that line. If the policy is successful then northeast would be a juncture
point between Indian hinterland and East Asia countries so, the north east region would
be the primary beneficiary of it. This policy will provide accessibility to vivid landscape
and rich cultural heritage of region to the rest of India and will boost tourism industry. It
will lead to creation of Special Economic Zones and industrial investment to reduce
transportation costs. This policy will promote cultural exchange and transmigration which
will improve the relations across the borders which will secure the stability in that region
especially along the Myanmar border.

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Study IQ Video Available On Youtube – Act East Policy Of India

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BIBLIOGRAPHY

Nanda, Prakash. 2003. Rediscovering Asia: Evolution of India’s Look-East Policy.

Rajiv Sikri, “India’s Look-East Policy” Asia Pacific Review, volume 16, issue 1, 2009.

Thongkholal Haokip, “India's Look East Policy: Its Evolution and Approach” South Asian
Survey, 2011.

N.D.Arora “Political Science book”Mc Graw Hill Education..

Website:- http://byjus.com/free-ias-prep/indias-look-east-policy.

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