Indo-Pacific: The Dragon-Eagle Rivalry and ASEAN’s Balancing Act
Southeast Asian nations must now navigate the Washington-Beijing dynamics and see US Indo-Pacific strategy for autonomy and regional stability
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ASEAN
Subianto Takes the Indonesian Baton: The Road Ahead for its Economic & Foreign Policy
Indonesian President Prabowo Subianto was sworn in as the Eighth President of Indonesia on Sunday — October 21, 2024. He
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Malaysia’s Tiptoe: Exploiting US-China Rivalry & Pragmatic Diplomacy
Malaysia’s pragmatic diplomatic stand is evident from its criticism of US policies vis-a-vis Beijing while relationship with Washington DC.
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Subianto’s Win in a Polarized World: Indonesia’s Balancing Act Must Continue
While it is an uphill task, Indonesia under Subianto will need to stick to a balanced foreign policy, which is nimble and deft, given the ASEAN nation’s economic and strategic interests. The ability to successfully walk a tightrope between the US and China and on other complex issues will depend upon several factors.
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A Possible Trump Presidency: Impact On US-ASEAN Ties
US-ASEAN ties in a possible Trump Presidency are to be speculated as there are serious implications of the likely developments.
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North-East Festival: A Roadmap To Domestic And Global Ties
North-East Festival is a festival that celebrates the beauty, diversity, and integrity of North-East India. The USP of this festival is the way in which we seamlessly integrate elements of social cohesion, cultural heritage, and economic welfare, making them an immersive experience for all. This also seeks to give a fillip to ties between North Eastern India and the increasingly important ASEAN region. The festival is important for a number of reasons. First, it highlights aspects of the region’s culture and economy that residents in other parts of India are not familiar with. Second, it can give a boost to tourism in the region. Third, it can open up new horizons for entrepreneurs from North Eastern India, and the rest of the country.
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The Growth Story Of ASEAN Powers: Indonesia and Malaysia
While the Malaysian economy has been adversely impacted as a result of political instability, the Indonesian economy has benefited immensely from political stability. Also, Malaysia has been lagging behind Indonesia in terms of Foreign Direct Investment (FDI). But still Malaysia continues to be one of the most attractive investment destinations in ASEAN.
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America is Back – Or is it?
It is true that the US needs to strike a balance between domestic priorities and its global commitments, but it cannot have meaningful engagement with the rest of the world, including ASEAN, if it is insular on economic issues. In other words, the US needs to realize that both ‘America First’ and globalisation – with some checks – can co-exist.
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ASEAN’s Foreign Policy: Managing The Great Power Politics
ASEAN is likely to be the driver of economic growth in the imminent future. While a number of ASEAN member states have stated that they do not subscribe to the US vision of the Free and Open Indo-Pacific, they are also aware of China’s increasingly expansionist tendencies and its aggressive stance over the South China Sea Issue. While ASEAN has numerous opportunities, it needs to ensure that differences within the bloc do not impact its functioning.
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The Rise of Paradiplomacy: Harnessing Odisha’s ASEAN Connect to Attract Investment
There has been a paradigm shift in practices of wooing investors for boosting the economy. States have been attempting through special summits. Indonesia and Odisha have shared historical links. Every year in November, the festival of ‘Bali Yatra’ celebrated commemorates the maritime history of Odisha and Bali (Indonesia). In this regard, India’s outreach and connectivity vis-à-vis ASEAN should focus on harnessing the historical linkages and geographical advantages which states possess with respect to the ASEAN region.
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China’s Perspective on the US Indo-Pacific Strategy: A Scholarly View
With the adoption of the Indo-Pacific concept vis-à-vis Asia-Pacific, many Chinese scholars and strategists have been alarmed. The development shows inefficiency in the US to protect its interests worldwide causing friction with China. These scholars argue the Indo-Pacific strategy of the US being directed against China and meant to develop an exclusive regional block. Once it’s implemented, the strategy will challenge China’s BRI and global position. In such a situation, Chinese scholars argue that the peace and stability and China’s rise have been impacted and undermined to protect the US interests and position in the region.
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