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The Proposal for an Indo-Pacific Treaty of Friendship and Cooperation: a Critical Reassessment

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The Proposal for an Indo-Pacific Treaty of Friendship and Cooperation: a Critical Reassessment The Proposal for an Indo-Pacific Treaty of Friendship and Cooperation: A Critical Reassessment Vignesh Ram Manipal University, India Abstract The emergence of the Indo- Pacific construct brings about interesting avenues for cooperation among states in the region. Characterised by the intertwining geographies of the Indian and the Pacific Oceans, the Indo- Pacific region is home to some of the most diverse peoples and economies in the world. In a speech delivered at the CSIS, Washington in 2013, the former Indonesian Foreign Minister Marty Natalegwa outlined the need for ®µ1Indo- /®™™13𨮪¢11%π∞¨µ´1®µ1"∑¨π®ï1(1¨≠11™µº¨11®´´π¨1 the prospects and challenges for a treaty among the major powers in the Indo- Pacific region, the article argues that a treaty would be necessary step and but should be concluded when sufficient groundwork for it is concluded. The article also argues that, the Indo . pacific concept would be best addressed if there is increased institutionalization of the concept and increased cooperation among middle powers such as India, Indonesia and Australia. Keywords: Indo-Pacific, cooperation, regional security Introduction different strategies regarding security and various intertwined interests with The development of the Indo- different major powers. Hence the Pacific concept has led to widespread challenge for the success of the Indo- discussion among the members of the Pacific conceptualization would largely academic and the strategic community depend on the way in which the about the growing importance of the behaviour of states concerned can be ™∂µ™¨1 º∫®Æ¨1 in International affairs. moulded on the basis of norms and Though nascent, the potential for it to institutions that can be developed. For alter the regional discourse is immense. starters, in May 2013ð1(¨∫∞®1%∂¨∞Ƶ1 Geographical conceptualizations always Minister, Marty Natalegwa suggested an have the ability to alter and provide more Indo- Pacific Treaty of Friendship and flexible manoeuvring for policy making Cooperation to be floated and signed by and strategy. The strategic move to place all the states concerned. the Indo . Pacific concept as an alternative The growing convergence seems to paradigm has opened up the debate over be taking shape regardless of the this new concept. changing domestic political environment The region is a wide canvas of in the countries of the region. The change diverse states with different systems, in administration in Indonesia however identities and traditions. They have has not commented on pushing forward Journal of ASEAN Studies, Vol. 3, No. 1 (2015), pp. 22-31 ©2015 by CBDS Bina Nusantara University and Indonesian Association for International Relations ISSN 2338-1361 print / ISSN 2338-1353 electronic 23 Journal of ASEAN Studies the proposal but continues to propose employed and the trust deficit should be initiatives which show its receptiveness bridged. The paper recommends that towards maritime neighbourhood and the institutionalization of the concept is historical identification as a maritime important so that there is a solid gateway between both of the oceans. foundation to bring about a consensus for 2∞¥∞≥®≥¿ð1 (®1 ™ª1 $®∫ª1 ∂≥∞™¢1 ®1 building any future cooperation in the seeks to embrace Southeast and Northeast region. Asia, adds more to the growing debate over why the concept could be more The Geopolitics of the Indo - Pacific: successful. Apart from the American Different Terminologies and Security acceptance of the term and widespread Interests usage, the Japanese receptivity is also seen in the various policies that have fallen Geopolitical definitions have often through. Hence, there is growing found their inspiration in concepts of relevance of such a treaty to be concluded. geography. The term Indo- Pacific similar However, a number of challenges to the other concepts finds its origin in the also confront the region. The attempt at bio geographic regional concept of the revising the existing status quo position Earth's seas, used mostly in fields such as by China and the assertiveness of states in marine biology. Though the fields are pushing forward their agenda unilaterally different the concept forging two oceans will affect the security situation in the has caught the imagination of geopolitical region. Therefore, by developing a new analysts and policy makers in countries in understanding about regions would the region to come up with the concept, provide opportunities for developing which like the bio geographic concept cooperative mechanisms among states. embraces the two oceans i.e. the Indian Hence not discounting any intentions and the Pacific Oceans (Briggs, 1995). The behind the proposed idea, an Indo- Pacific Indo- Pacific has been used by various treaty will only be acceptable and realized government functionaries of the United if its clauses are acceptable to the smallest States but first picked up traction with its and the biggest player alike. Hence the mention in the Australian Defence White challenge would be to formulate a treaty Paper which specified the importance of that is centred on principles acceptable to the arc running from India to Japan via all powers but at the same time is Indonesia for Australia (Department of accommodative to interests, which is only Defence , 2013). Similarly, it has also been possible if the treaty would promote conceptualized as an emerging Asian common area of convergence and would strategic system that encompasses both not overpower the ambitions and interests the Pacific and Indian Oceans, defined in of major powers in the region and play a part by the geographically expanding more facilitating role. interests and reach of China and India, Therefore, the paper argues that and the continued strategic role and given the growing challenges from the presence of the United States in both emerging geopolitical power play in the (Medcalf, 2012). region, a treaty in the Indo- Pacific needs The Indo- /®™∞∞™1 ¨¨™¨∫∫∂ð1 to be a gradual process and should be the Asia Pacific which has been widely developed over a period of time. It used in the realm of strategic studies has suggests that at the current juncture conflicting definitions. For instance, the confidence building measures should be UNESCAP defines the Asia Pacific as a 24 The Proposal for an Indo-Pacific Treaty of Friendship and Cooperation region is made up of 53 Member States whether the Indo- Pacific region, can and 9 Associate Members, with a combine the total resources and balance geographical scope that stretches from the power relations in the region. Turkey in the west to the Pacific island The Australian vision was also nation of Kiribati in the east, and from the supported by the Japanese assertion of the Russian Federation in the north to New "∂≥º¨™¨11 1¨®∫ (Abe, 2007). The Zealand in the south (UNESCAP). 12¨®∫1 ™Ø12£1 ©¨1¨¡≥®∞¨11 Moreover the Asia Pacific Economic his speech at the Indian Parliament were Cooperation (APEC) which again was a ¨1 (´∞®1 ®1 ¨1 /®™∞™1 .™¨®ð1 ©π®™Ø≥´1 1 º®≥®1 1 ¨1 W_^V1 metaphorically highlighting the growing comprises of almost all of the Pacific Rim convergence between India and key states countries but excludes India. India had such as Japan in the Pacific. been kept away from APEC due to its Though there is a wide gamut of prevailing economic situation. A ten year support, there has also been a widespread moratorium which was put in place also criticism of the Indo- Pacific construct. expired but India was still denied a While it has been argued from and membership in APEC. The newly Australian perspective that there i1 ®1 evolving trade pacts such as the TPP, sufficient concentration of risks or of which was criticised by a number of contested interests for the Indo- Pacific to scholars and policy practitioners ©¨1 ®1 º¨º≥1 ™≥º∫∞∂µ1 1 º®≥∞®1 including at the hearing before the strategic construct (White, 2013), the subcommittee on trade of the committee Indian arguments have been more on ways and means U.S. house of concentrated in and around preserving representatives in March 2013 for the lack ¨1 ™∂º¢1 ®ª¨™1 ®º¢1 of considering the inclusion of India (The including its ability to manoeuvre Committee of Ways and Means , 2013). between China and the United States Even though, the US Department (Scott, 2012) (Gupta, 2011).1 of State perceives the regions of East Asia Though there might not be tacit and the Pacific and South Asia as different usage of the terminology, there is realms of its operations and provides the acceptance of the terminology at the Asia Pacific strategy to the East Asia and highest echelons of power in the the Pacific Bureau (US Department of respective capitals. In India, the term has State), the United States Pacific been used even by former PM Manmohan "∂®µ1 ®π¨®1 1 ¨π®ª∞∂1 ¨ª™¨1 Singh at the India- ASEAN Summit in from about half the earth's surface, from 2012 (Ministry of External Affairs , 2012). the waters off the west coast of the U.S. to The term has been widely used by Japan the western border of India, and from Antarctica to the North Pole (US Navy 1 While one set of arguments that are critical Pacific Command). Despite the cite the issues of the Indo . Pacific construct overlapping definitions, the usage of the driving India too close to the US ambit, the terminologies describes the intent, other set argues about the relations with China could be disturbed if this term become perceptions and calculations of different the operational framework. It has also been states in the region. The shift from the argued that the change in foreign policy Asia Pacific to the usage of the term Indo- ¨∫11¨1421º≥11™ª®ª¨1(µ®1 Pacific has great significance.
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