DNA Edit: Far East ties show India’s independent foreign policy

The Prime Minister’s successful reach out to Far Eastern countries —Indonesia, Malaysia and Singapore — shows the success of the Centre’s ‘Act East’ policy.

The visit to Indonesia is significant as India has managed to develop a maritime port there ensuring that its strategic interests are maintained vis-à-vis China. The other point is that bilateral trade will be developed. Bilateral trade between India and Indonesia is something that has not reached its potential, and both countries expect it to grow from $18.3 billion in 2017 to $ 50 billion by 2025.

This is a message not just to Indonesia but to all Far Eastern nations that India is serious about interacting with. The reaching out to Fast Eastern nations is not something new. The then PM Narasimha Rao started the ‘Look East’ policy in the 1990s with an outreach to the Asian nations.

The US was not the strong friend of India then as it is now, West Asia was in collapse post the Gulf War and the six Asian tigers were wooed successfully. India became a member of ASEAN in 1992 and there was much talk but the euphoria soon fizzled out.

It is under PM Modi that the engagement has broadened. India has not just restricted itself to the Asian tigers but moved beyond to the Koreas, Bangladesh, Australia, New Zealand and Fiji. Such relationships are not just for economic or strategic good but they also send out a political message.

Minister of State for External Affairs VK Singh’s visit to North Korea shortly after the country’s fallout with the US was just that. India is showing the world that it has an independent foreign policy and the Far East is a good place to state it.