THE ASEAN REGION IN INDIA'S FOREIGN POLICY : 1967-1989

Abstract

This study seeks to determine Indian policy in the ASEAN region over a period of slightly more regional two context decades, from 1967 - 1989. It examines the vicissitudes of that policy within a trans-regional context bearing in mind the fact that India and the ASEAN states belong to two different but adjacent ASEAN as security complexes. The study also makes a conceptual distinction between of an organization and ASEAN as a sub-region so as to enable a better understanding the evolution and growth of India-ASEAN characterising relations. The thesis examines this relationship by it as a derived relationship. Derived relationship is a product of interactions arising out of a state's secondary, as opposed to, primary interests. When a state's concern towards another entity is governed by extrinsic factors then its relations with the latter is bound to be derivative of its more fundamental foreign policy concerns. In a derived relationship time interests are seen to appear and disappear from outright to time, thus giving rise to a pattern of 'variable concerns' rather than total involvement or indifference. The study demonstrates that the convergence and dissonance in India-ASEAN determined by a mix relations is of three factors : (i) India's general foreign policy concern, i.e., maintenance of its autonomy and territorial integrity; (ii) its variable relations with the major powers - US, USSR and China; and (iii) its close understanding with the Indochina part of the polarised Southeast Asian region. India articulated external powers its objectives in Southeast Asia in terms of seeking to minimise the role of in the region and to encourage intra-regional accommodation end. Concomitantly, towards this regarded by a Southeast Asia tree from the dominance of any one external power is India as being important to maintaining Asia. This its own pre-eminent position in South is so because it is India's unstated concern that conflict and confrontation Southeast Asian in the security complex have the tendency to spill beyond the geographical that complex especially, limits of when these get involved with the competing powers. Since interests of the major the South Asian these powers' policies equally impinge on the security dynamics operating in complex, India is compelled to be alert to the developments complex. In the adjoining In keeping with the demands of a derived relationship framework, not this study shows that it was rather the formation of ASEAN as such which stimulated India's interest towards the region but unconcerned the about security context which gave rise to that association. Although seemingly study demonstrates, the impact of the projected Western withdrawal from Southeast Asia, India as they could not remain entirely indifferent to the emerging security environment in its neighbouring such as security, region. Clearly a gap in perception, between India and ASEAN over issues emerged and conflict, cooperation, peace and order in both South and Southeast Asia continued to grow. The key contributing gent policies factor towards this gap was the divergent policies of the major powers within the South and Southeast Asia polarised region and more importantly, the regional states' relations with the major powers as manifested alignment patterns. in their This pervasive factor in India-ASEAN polico-diplomatic led interactions often be the them Kampuchean to adopt different positions on regional issues, the most divisive of which proved to conflict. Although not a direct bilateral conflict between India and ASEAN it nevertheless turned most contentious, once India recognised decision the PRK regime. India's confirmed and ASEAN's sharp reaction to it while significantly damaging the relations also when the derivative element governing this relationship, reinforcing the argument that the primacy of both sides' interests in such a relationship lie elsewhere, their policies are liable to cause mutual friction even over issues which are not strictly bilateral in nature. This disharmony was not merely confined to the politico-diplomatic field as it also disturbed structural the tenor of India-ASEAN economic transactions which already suffered from certain inherent problems like differences in the levels of economic development, economies, the nature of their problems and the orientation of their trade structures. Efforts to overcome the structural however, proved elusive in a politically divisive atmosphere. This became particularly avowed evident purpose when both India and ASEAN attempted to forge a dialogue partnership with the of enhancing economic cooperation. But the abortive attempt only confirmed the primacy of political factors which governed their relations. On the whole this study demonstrates that India's policy in the ASEAN region followed the imperatives of the derived relationship demands framework in so far as it mainly responded to the of certain secondary Indian interests in that region.