Asia Pacific and Indo-Pacific

US Policy of Indo-Pacific
 Indo-Pacific Region

Eastern Indian Ocean to Western and Central Pacific

Ocean

Term Coined in 2007 by an Indian Researcher for

marine biodiversity comprising of entire Indian and
Pacific Ocean

Geo-strategic use is recent phenomenon

Defining Indo-Pacific Policy
 Indo-Pacific Policy of US was
announced by US president Donald
Trump in 2017

 “US policy to limit the growing Chinese

influence in Indo-Pacific Region with the
help of regional allies”
Indo-Pacific Policy: An
extension of Pivot
Asia/Rebalance to Asia
 US president Obama announced Pivot-
Asia in 2012 based on article published
in 2011.
 Main thrust of this policy was develop
close strategic partnerships with Asia-
Pacific states
Pivot Asia (Rebalance to Asia)
 Military Component:
Military Security guarantee
Deployment of Military
Establishment of Military Bases
Sale of Modern Weapons
Deployment of modern weapons
Nuclear Shield
Missile Defense Systems
Increased maritime presence
Economic Component of Pivot
Asia: Trans-Pacific Partnership
(TPP)
 Signed in 2015 by 12 States
 Basic objective was to Isolate China in
the region
 US withdrew from TPP in 2017
 Yet to be ratified
Indo-Pacific Policy (2017):
Extension in Pivot Asia:
China declared officially as Rival and threat by
US president Donald Trump
Region under the policy was expanded
India: A central state in this policy
○ Quad (2007): A four state naval alliance involving
US, India, Japan and Australia. They hold annual
naval exercises
○ LEMOA (2016): Logistics Exchange
Memorandum of Agreement. A bilateral
military logistic agreement between US and
India.
○ COMCASA (2018): Communication
compatibility and Security Agreement. A
bilateral military intelligence agreement
between US and India. Under this: 1. US and
India shall share military intelligence, 2. US
allowed India to purchase Intelligence
gathering technologies from US
○ US sold India Unarmed and Armed Drones in
2017 and 2019 respectively. These drones
specialize in maritime operations.
○ US sold India ATAC Helicopters in 2019. They
are multirole: Rescue, Transportation and
Anti-ship and Anti-submarine Missile systems
 ○ US is negotiating to sell an Aircraft Carrier to
India
 US withdrew from TPP
 Name of US Pacific Command changed to
Indo-Pacific Command
US rebalance to Asia (Asia Pivot)
Chinese Island Disputes
China’s Response to Indo-
Pacific/Pivot Asia Policy
 Belt and Road Initiative especially CPEC
 Strengthening Navy
 Regional Comprehensive Partnership
(RCEP): A free trade agreement by
China with 14 other states (China,
ASEAN states (10), Australia, New
Zealand, Japan and South Korea (India
decided not to join in November 2019)
BRI
CPEC
RCEP