The summit of the Association of South East Asian Nations has kicked off in Cambodia. The three-day summit in the Cambodian capital will also include the East Asia Summit. This time the ten nation bloc faces a multitude of issues, including the crisis in Myanmar.

ASEAN Summit kicks off in Cambodia; Myanmar crisis to dominate talks

The group of 20 countries are all set to meet in Bali for the G20 annual summit. The theme for the summit is - Recover Together, Recover Stronger. Ukraine war, inflation and food security. The two-day summit will kick-off on the 15th November.

ASEAN Summit 2022: Dispute in South China Sea on agenda

Joe Biden held a meet with leaders from Southeast Asia virtually. In his opening remarks, he said that the United States is committed to the central role of ten ASEAN nations in the region and called China's actions towards Taiwan "coercive" and a threat to peace and stability.

ASEAN Summit: Biden vows to stand with Southeast Asia, hits China

Indian Prime Minister Narendra Modi addresses the ASEAN Summit virtually. During his address PM Modi pointed out that the year 2022 will complete three decades of India-ASEAN partnership and this milestone will be celebrated as the 'Asean-India Friendship Year'.

PM Narendra Modi addresses 18th ASEAN-India summit virtually

Joe Biden will participate in the Association of Southeast Asian Nations (ASEAN) summit and discuss new initiatives to strengthen the strategic partnership with the bloc.

''The United States is committed to an "enduring" commitment to ASEAN's central role in regional affairs,'' as per a statement issued by the White House.

''As we work together to end the COVID-19 pandemic, address the climate crisis, promote economic growth, and address a range of other regional challenges and opportunities," it added.

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This is the first time in four years a US president is participating in the summit as Biden's predecessor, Donald Trump, attended an ASEAN-US meeting in Manila in 2017.

Also read |&nbsp;<a href="https://www.wionews.com/world/biden-needs-to-diversify-the-feds-leadership-423977" hreflang="en">Biden needs to diversify the fed’s leadership</a>

The move is being considered as a pushback against China by Biden. Chinese President Xi Jinping and Russian President Vladimir are also going to attend the three-day&nbsp;virtual gathering.

Beijing is investing heavily in South Asian countries under the disguise of improving its global trade reach for its Belt and Road plan but these countries have become mired in a Chinese debt trap.

US-China tensions have mounted and Beijing has stepped up military activity near Taiwan, the self-ruling US-aligned democracy that Beijing considers a province awaiting reunification.&nbsp;

Also read |&nbsp;<a href="https://www.wionews.com/south-asia/myanmar-committed-to-asean-peace-plan-says-it-is-ready-to-cooperate-423561" hreflang="en">Myanmar committed to ASEAN peace plan, says it is ready to cooperate</a>

Biden's administration has described Beijing as his country's top long-term challenge and raised pressure on concerns from human rights to trade.

Prior to the ASEAN summit, senior director for East Asia at the White House National Security Council, Edgard Kagan said that Washington does not see the Quad as "an Asian NATO" and that it was not intended to compete with ASEAN.

Referring to China's &nbsp;broad claims in the disputed South China Sea, he said Washington has an interest in working with ASEAN to ensure supply-chain resilience, on climate, and to address ''common challenges on maritime issues.''

Coup-hit Myanmar's bloody crisis will take centre stage at a Southeast Asian summit that the country's junta chief has been barred from attending, as international pressure mounts on the military regime.

Joe Biden will participate in the Association of Southeast Asian Nations (ASEAN) summit and discuss new initiatives to strengthen the strategic partnership with the bloc.

Joe Biden will participate in the Association of Southeast Asian Nations (ASEAN) summit and discuss new initiatives to strengthen the strategic partnership with the bloc. ''The United States is committed to an "enduring" commitment to ASEAN's central role in regional affairs,'' as per a statement issued by the White House. ''As we work together to end the COVID-19 pandemic, address the climate crisis, promote economic growth, and address a range of other regional challenges and opportunities," it added. This is the first time in four years a US president is participating in the summit as Biden's predecessor, Donald Trump, attended an ASEAN-US meeting in Manila in 2017. Also read | Biden needs to diversify the fed’s leadership The move is being considered as a pushback against China by Biden. Chinese President Xi Jinping and Russian President Vladimir are also going to attend the three-day virtual gathering. Beijing is investing heavily in South Asian countries under the disguise of improving its global trade reach for its Belt and Road plan but these countries have become mired in a Chinese debt trap. US-China tensions have mounted and Beijing has stepped up military activity near Taiwan, the self-ruling US-aligned democracy that Beijing considers a province awaiting reunification. Also read | Myanmar committed to ASEAN peace plan, says it is ready to cooperate Biden's administration has described Beijing as his country's top long-term challenge and raised pressure on concerns from human rights to trade. Prior to the ASEAN summit, senior director for East Asia at the White House National Security Council, Edgard Kagan said that Washington does not see the Quad as "an Asian NATO" and that it was not intended to compete with ASEAN. Referring to China's broad claims in the disputed South China Sea, he said Washington has an interest in working with ASEAN to ensure supply-chain resilience, on climate, and to address ''common challenges on maritime issues.'' Coup-hit Myanmar's bloody crisis will take centre stage at a Southeast Asian summit that the country's junta chief has been barred from attending, as international pressure mounts on the military regime.

US President Joe Biden to take part in ASEAN summit, strengthen partnership with bloc

The leaders of the countries of the Association of Southeast Asian Nations (ASEAN) on Tuesday began their annual meeting without a Myanmar representative. This comes after the bloc barred Myanmar from sending its top general to the meet.

ASEAN summit kicks off without Myanmar representative

Association of South East Asian Nations (ASEAN) decided that a "non-political representative" from Myanmar would be invited for the ASEAN Summit that will take place between October 26 and 28. This decision has effectively excluded Myanmar junta leader Min Aung Hlaing from attending the summit. This is a rare rebuke that has come amid concerns over military governemnt's commitment to defusing the crisis in Myanmar.

The Myanmar junta slammed the decision on Saturday evening, accusing ASEAN of breaching the bloc's policy of non-interference in the domestic affairs of its member states.

"We can also see the interference from the other (non-ASEAN) countries," junta spokesman brigadier general Zaw Min Tun told the BBC Burmese section.

Also Read | <a href="https://www.wionews.com/south-asia/myanmar-aung-san-suu-kyis-lawyer-says-he-has-been-issued-a-gag-order-420842">Myanmar: Aung San Suu Kyi's lawyer says he has been issued a gag order</a>

He seized on talks between the US Secretary of State Anthony Blinken and ASEAN special envoy, Brunei's Second Foreign Minister Erywan Yusof, ahead of the meeting and also singled out EU pressure.

The bloc, widely criticised as a toothless organisation, took a strong stand after the junta rebuffed requests that a special envoy meet with "with all stakeholders" in Myanmar -- a phrase seen to include ousted civilian leader Aung San Suu Kyi.

The statement noted "insufficient progress" in the implementation of a five-point plan agreed by ASEAN leaders in April to end turmoil following a coup in February.

It also said that the situation in Myanmar "was having an impact on regional security as well as the unity, credibility and centrality of ASEAN".

Also Read | <a href="https://www.wionews.com/world/myanmar-did-not-make-a-request-to-speak-unga-president-abdulla-shahid-clarifies-to-wion-416617">Myanmar did not make a request to speak, UNGA president Abdulla Shahid clarifies to WION</a>

Richard Horsey, Myanmar adviser to Crisis Group, predicted the "non-political" representative would be someone below the level of minister or deputy minister.

Singapore's foreign ministry described the move as a "difficult but necessary decision to uphold ASEAN's credibility".

Mustafa Izzuddin, global affairs analyst at consultancy Solaris Strategies Singapore, called the exclusion "a political stopgap measure for ASEAN to assuage international criticism".

It sent a "political signal" to the junta "that ASEAN is not one to be pushed around", Izzuddin added.

And independent Myanmar analyst David Mathieson said that "in ASEAN terms this is a real slap in the face".

(With inputs from agencies)

Association of South East Asian Nations (ASEAN) decided that a "non-political representative" from Myanmar would be invited for the ASEAN Summit that will take place between October 26 and 28.

Association of South East Asian Nations (ASEAN) decided that a "non-political representative" from Myanmar would be invited for the ASEAN Summit that will take place between October 26 and 28. This decision has effectively excluded Myanmar junta leader Min Aung Hlaing from attending the summit. This is a rare rebuke that has come amid concerns over military governemnt's commitment to defusing the crisis in Myanmar. The Myanmar junta slammed the decision on Saturday evening, accusing ASEAN of breaching the bloc's policy of non-interference in the domestic affairs of its member states. "We can also see the interference from the other (non-ASEAN) countries," junta spokesman brigadier general Zaw Min Tun told the BBC Burmese section. Also Read | Myanmar: Aung San Suu Kyi's lawyer says he has been issued a gag order He seized on talks between the US Secretary of State Anthony Blinken and ASEAN special envoy, Brunei's Second Foreign Minister Erywan Yusof, ahead of the meeting and also singled out EU pressure. The bloc, widely criticised as a toothless organisation, took a strong stand after the junta rebuffed requests that a special envoy meet with "with all stakeholders" in Myanmar -- a phrase seen to include ousted civilian leader Aung San Suu Kyi. The statement noted "insufficient progress" in the implementation of a five-point plan agreed by ASEAN leaders in April to end turmoil following a coup in February. It also said that the situation in Myanmar "was having an impact on regional security as well as the unity, credibility and centrality of ASEAN". Also Read | Myanmar did not make a request to speak, UNGA president Abdulla Shahid clarifies to WION Richard Horsey, Myanmar adviser to Crisis Group, predicted the "non-political" representative would be someone below the level of minister or deputy minister. Singapore's foreign ministry described the move as a "difficult but necessary decision to uphold ASEAN's credibility". Mustafa Izzuddin, global affairs analyst at consultancy Solaris Strategies Singapore, called the exclusion "a political stopgap measure for ASEAN to assuage international criticism". It sent a "political signal" to the junta "that ASEAN is not one to be pushed around", Izzuddin added. And independent Myanmar analyst David Mathieson said that "in ASEAN terms this is a real slap in the face". (With inputs from agencies)

ASEAN excludes Myanmar junta chief from attendance at summit

Wednesday will also see the East Asia Summit Foreign Ministers’ meeting which includes 10 ASEAN nations and eight other countries - China, Japan, Korea, Australia, India, Russia, New Zealand and the US.

India, ASEAN FMs meet on Wednesday

Myanmar`s National Unity Government, which includes ousted lawmakers, appreciates the support from Southeast Asian countries, but the body`s prime minister said he was concerned by "any misrepresentation of facts by the military`. 
 
In his first statement since Saturday`s meeting hosted by the Association of Southeast Asian Nations (ASEAN) with the junta leader, National Unity Prime Minister Mahn Winn Khaing Thann also said there should be an unconditional release of political prisoners, including Aung San Suu Kyi, for any constructive dialogue. 
 
The Myanmar military overthrew the elected government of Suu Kyi on Feb. 1, detaining her and other civilian politicians. 
&nbsp;

Myanmar`s National Unity Government, which includes ousted lawmakers, appreciates the support from Southeast Asian countries, but the body`s prime minister said he was concerned by "any misrepresentation of facts by the military`.

Myanmar`s National Unity Government, which includes ousted lawmakers, appreciates the support from Southeast Asian countries, but the body`s prime minister said he was concerned by "any misrepresentation of facts by the military`. In his first statement since Saturday`s meeting hosted by the Association of Southeast Asian Nations (ASEAN) with the junta leader, National Unity Prime Minister Mahn Winn Khaing Thann also said there should be an unconditional release of political prisoners, including Aung San Suu Kyi, for any constructive dialogue. The Myanmar military overthrew the elected government of Suu Kyi on Feb. 1, detaining her and other civilian politicians.

Myanmar National Unity Government PM urges ASEAN to engage with them

Myanmar's pro-democracy activists sharply criticized an agreement between the country's junta chief and the Association of Southeast Asian Nations (ASEAN) to end a violent post-coup crisis and vowed to continue protesting.

Myanmar activists slam ASEAN-junta consensus, vow to continue protests

Southeast Asian leaders announced a consensus on ending the Myanmar crisis. The ASEAN leaders have agreed on a plan with Myanmar's junta chief on Saturday to end the crisis in the violence-hit nation.

ASEAN leaders reach consensus on ending violence in Myanmar

Myanmar's military junta leader, Senior General Min Aung Hlaing, arrived in Jakarta on Saturday for an Association of Southeast Asian Nations (ASEAN) summit on the crisis in his country.

Myanmar's military junta leader arrives in Jakarta for ASEAN summit

Myanmar junta chief Min Aung Hlaing will attend an Association of Southeast Asian Nations (ASEAN) summit in Indonesia on April 24. It is his first known foreign trip since he seized power on Feb 1.

Myanmar Coup: Myanmar Military Chief Min Aung Hlaing to attend ASEAN Summit

Myanmar military junta leader Min Aung Hlaing will join a special ASEAN summit next week, said Thai foreign ministry on Saturday. This will be his first official trip since Myanmar military's February 1 coup that toppled the civilian government led by Aung San Suu Kyi.

"Several leaders have confirmed their attendance including Myanmar’s MAH (Min Aung Hlaing)," said Thai foreign ministry spokesman Tanee Sangrat in a message to reporters.

The meeting of 10-country Association of Southeast Asian Nations (ASEAN) is set to take place in Jakarta on April 24.

Activists were not pleased with Myanmar junta leader attending the ASEAN meet.

"#ASEAN do not legitimize the Myanmar Military junta as a government by inviting MAH to attend the summit," said prominent activist Wai Wai Nu on Twitter. "(The) Junta is illegitimate and illegal."

Myanmar has seen fierce anti-democracy protests after February 1 coup. This has seen thousands of people taking to streets in cities across Myanmar to declare their support for democratic government.

The military junta has used strong-handed tactics including use of firearms that has seen hundreds of protesters getting killed till date.

(With inputs from agencies)

Myanmar military junta leader Min Aung Hlaing will join a special ASEAN summit next week, said Thai foreign ministry on Saturday. This will be his first official trip since Myanmar military's February 1 coup that toppled the civilian government led by Aung San Suu Kyi.

Myanmar military junta leader Min Aung Hlaing will join a special ASEAN summit next week, said Thai foreign ministry on Saturday. This will be his first official trip since Myanmar military's February 1 coup that toppled the civilian government led by Aung San Suu Kyi. "Several leaders have confirmed their attendance including Myanmar’s MAH (Min Aung Hlaing)," said Thai foreign ministry spokesman Tanee Sangrat in a message to reporters. The meeting of 10-country Association of Southeast Asian Nations (ASEAN) is set to take place in Jakarta on April 24. Activists were not pleased with Myanmar junta leader attending the ASEAN meet. "#ASEAN do not legitimize the Myanmar Military junta as a government by inviting MAH to attend the summit," said prominent activist Wai Wai Nu on Twitter. "(The) Junta is illegitimate and illegal." Myanmar has seen fierce anti-democracy protests after February 1 coup. This has seen thousands of people taking to streets in cities across Myanmar to declare their support for democratic government. The military junta has used strong-handed tactics including use of firearms that has seen hundreds of protesters getting killed till date. (With inputs from agencies)

Myanmar military junta leader to attend ASEAN summit

The 17th India ASEAN summit will take place on Thursday in a virtual format with Indian Prime Minister Narendra Modi and all the ten ASEAN leaders participating in the meet.&nbsp;

A release by the Ministry of External Affairs said, "the Summit will review the status of ASEAN-India Strategic Partnership and take stock of progress made in key areas such as connectivity, maritime cooperation, trade and commerce, education and capacity building etc."

Indo-Pacific will be the key focus of the virtual meet, given how New Delhi has been reiterating ASEAN's centrality in the region. During last year's summit in Bangkok,&nbsp;Indian PM had&nbsp;launched the Indo-Pacific Oceans initiative (IPOI) that focuses on&nbsp;maritime security, trade, connectivity, disaster risk reduction.

In fact, New Delhi was quick to welcome ASEAN Outlook on Indo-Pacific.

The release explained, "ASEAN-India Strategic Partnership stands on a strong foundation of shared geographical, historical and civilizational ties. India’s Act East Policy, underlining ASEAN centrality, reflects the importance India attaches to engagement with ASEAN."

COVID-19 pandemic undoubtedly will be one of the main talking point, with cooperation on&nbsp;post-pandemic economic recovery being a key point of discussion.&nbsp;

The 17th India ASEAN summit will take place on Thursday in a virtual format with Indian Prime Minister Narendra Modi and all the ten ASEAN leaders participating in the meet.

The 17th India ASEAN summit will take place on Thursday in a virtual format with Indian Prime Minister Narendra Modi and all the ten ASEAN leaders participating in the meet. A release by the Ministry of External Affairs said, "the Summit will review the status of ASEAN-India Strategic Partnership and take stock of progress made in key areas such as connectivity, maritime cooperation, trade and commerce, education and capacity building etc." Indo-Pacific will be the key focus of the virtual meet, given how New Delhi has been reiterating ASEAN's centrality in the region. During last year's summit in Bangkok, Indian PM had launched the Indo-Pacific Oceans initiative (IPOI) that focuses on maritime security, trade, connectivity, disaster risk reduction. In fact, New Delhi was quick to welcome ASEAN Outlook on Indo-Pacific. The release explained, "ASEAN-India Strategic Partnership stands on a strong foundation of shared geographical, historical and civilizational ties. India’s Act East Policy, underlining ASEAN centrality, reflects the importance India attaches to engagement with ASEAN." COVID-19 pandemic undoubtedly will be one of the main talking point, with cooperation on post-pandemic economic recovery being a key point of discussion.

With Indo-Pacific in focus, India-ASEAN virtual summit to take place on Thursday

Vietnam has invited India to take part in the ASEAN virtual summit that will take place from November 13&nbsp;to 15.

Hanoi, which is the chair of the ASEAN for 2020 has invited all 10 dialogue partners for the annual summit.&nbsp;10 dialogue partner of ASEAN are&nbsp;Australia, Canada, China, India, Japan, South Korea, New Zealand, Russia, the United States, and the European Union.

India has increased its engagement with ASEAN and earlier this year, new ASEAN-India Plan of Action (2021-2025) was adopted. Last year,&nbsp;India&nbsp;launched 1,000 doctoral fellowships for ASEAN students at Indian institutes of technology which will help in the development of ASEAN’s human capital.

The summit which happens in the backdrop of COVID-19 crisis and Chinese aggressiveness is bound to be the focal point of the world's attention. This especially since, the Quad foreign ministers in recent&nbsp;meet had reaffirmed ASEAN centrality in the Indo pacific construct.

Last year Indian Prime Minister Narendra Modi had travelled to Thailand in November for the ASEAN summit.&nbsp;

Vietnam has invited India to take part in the ASEAN virtual summit that will take place from November 13 to 15. Hanoi, which is the chair of the ASEAN for 2020 has invited all 10 dialogue partners for the annual summit.

Vietnam has invited India to take part in the ASEAN virtual summit that will take place from November 13 to 15. Hanoi, which is the chair of the ASEAN for 2020 has invited all 10 dialogue partners for the annual summit. 10 dialogue partner of ASEAN are Australia, Canada, China, India, Japan, South Korea, New Zealand, Russia, the United States, and the European Union. India has increased its engagement with ASEAN and earlier this year, new ASEAN-India Plan of Action (2021-2025) was adopted. Last year, India launched 1,000 doctoral fellowships for ASEAN students at Indian institutes of technology which will help in the development of ASEAN’s human capital. The summit which happens in the backdrop of COVID-19 crisis and Chinese aggressiveness is bound to be the focal point of the world's attention. This especially since, the Quad foreign ministers in recent meet had reaffirmed ASEAN centrality in the Indo pacific construct. Last year Indian Prime Minister Narendra Modi had travelled to Thailand in November for the ASEAN summit.

Vietnam invites India for ASEAN virtual summit in November

<a href="https://www.wionews.com/world/not-interested-in-meaningless-talks-just-so-trump-can-boast-north-korea-262928">North Korea</a> rejected an invitation for leader Kim Jong Un to attend a planned summit in South Korea next week with Southeast Asian nations, saying it would be "pointless" due to strained ties with Seoul, North Korean state media reported on Thursday.

South Korean President Moon Jae-in sent a letter of invitation to Kim on November&nbsp;5, with an offer for an envoy to attend if he was unable to participate, the official KCNA news agency said.

Moon has said Kim might join when he hosts leaders of the Association of Southeast Asian Nations (ASEAN) in the South Korean port city of Busan next week to celebrate the 30th anniversary of their partnership.

Moon's office said it was "very regretful" Kim would miss the event, and the invitation was meant to rally international support for the two leaders' joint efforts to foster peace.

While thanking Seoul for the invitation, North Korea requested the South's "understanding that we failed to find out the proper reason" for Kim to participate, KCNA said.

The statement accused South Korea of failing to implement agreements from past summits between Kim and Moon by depending on the United States.

"As nothing was achieved in implementing the agreements ... the north-south summit for the mere form's sake would be pointless," KCNA said.

"Not content with sustaining losses from dependence on the <a href="https://www.wionews.com/world/united-states-china-trade-deal-may-not-be-signed-this-year-263497">United States</a>, the south side made an offer for discussing the north-south relations in the theatre of multi-lateral co-operation. This makes us only dubious."

The two Koreas undertook a flurry of diplomacy including three summits last year, during which Moon and Kim agreed to improve ties and restart stalled business initiatives.

But there has been no significant progress amid tightening sanctions aimed at the North's nuclear and missile programmes, and stalled denuclearisation talks after Kim's failed <a href="https://www.wionews.com/opinions/donald-trump-kim-jong-un-summits-other-aim-was-to-sell-vietnam-model-to-north-korea-208086">second summit</a> with US&nbsp;President Donald Trump.

Pyongyang has stepped up criticism against Seoul and Washington in recent months for their joint military drills and the South's purchase of US&nbsp;weapons designed to fend off North Korean threats.

"North Korea now considers summits without payment for co-operation as empty diplomacy that merely helps Moon and Trump raise domestic political support," said Leif-Eric Easley, who teaches international studies at Ewha Womans University in Seoul.

North Korea rejected an invitation for leader Kim Jong Un to attend a planned summit in South Korea next week with Southeast Asian nations, saying it would be "pointless" due to strained ties with Seoul, North Korean state media reported on Thursday.

North Korea rejected an invitation for leader Kim Jong Un to attend a planned summit in South Korea next week with Southeast Asian nations, saying it would be "pointless" due to strained ties with Seoul, North Korean state media reported on Thursday. South Korean President Moon Jae-in sent a letter of invitation to Kim on November 5, with an offer for an envoy to attend if he was unable to participate, the official KCNA news agency said. Moon has said Kim might join when he hosts leaders of the Association of Southeast Asian Nations (ASEAN) in the South Korean port city of Busan next week to celebrate the 30th anniversary of their partnership. Moon's office said it was "very regretful" Kim would miss the event, and the invitation was meant to rally international support for the two leaders' joint efforts to foster peace. While thanking Seoul for the invitation, North Korea requested the South's "understanding that we failed to find out the proper reason" for Kim to participate, KCNA said. The statement accused South Korea of failing to implement agreements from past summits between Kim and Moon by depending on the United States. "As nothing was achieved in implementing the agreements ... the north-south summit for the mere form's sake would be pointless," KCNA said. "Not content with sustaining losses from dependence on the United States, the south side made an offer for discussing the north-south relations in the theatre of multi-lateral co-operation. This makes us only dubious." The two Koreas undertook a flurry of diplomacy including three summits last year, during which Moon and Kim agreed to improve ties and restart stalled business initiatives. But there has been no significant progress amid tightening sanctions aimed at the North's nuclear and missile programmes, and stalled denuclearisation talks after Kim's failed second summit with US President Donald Trump. Pyongyang has stepped up criticism against Seoul and Washington in recent months for their joint military drills and the South's purchase of US weapons designed to fend off North Korean threats. "North Korea now considers summits without payment for co-operation as empty diplomacy that merely helps Moon and Trump raise domestic political support," said Leif-Eric Easley, who teaches international studies at Ewha Womans University in Seoul.

North Korea says 'pointless' for Kim to attend South Korea ASEAN summit

After so many negotiations, India has decided not to join RCEP. Here's the latest from Siddhant Sibbal.

ASEAN Summit: India decides not to join RCEP

PM Modi to meet Chinese President Xi Jinping in Bangkok on the sidelines of ASEAN Summit. This going to be 2nd meeting between 2 leaders in less than a month.

PM Modi to meet Xi Jinping in Bangkok

Indian PM Narendra Modi has arrived in Thailand, PM Modi is on a 3-day visit to Thailand, he will hold a series of meetings on ASEAN sidelines. Watch this video to know more.

Bangkok: Red carpet welcome for Indian PM Modi

External affairs minister S Jaishankar on Friday wrapped up his <a href="https://www.wionews.com/india-news/s-jaishankar-to-visit-beijing-to-prepare-for-pm-narendra-modi-xi-jinping-second-informal-summit-240245">two-day visit to Thailand</a>, during which he had 18 bilateral, four multilateral meetings. He also had five pull-aside meetings.

The focus during his bilateral and multilateral meetings was on Indo-Pacific, terrorism and India's Act East policy.&nbsp;

The four big meetings in which Jaishankar took part includes, ASEAN-India Ministerial Meeting, the 9th East Asia Summit Foreign Ministers’ Meeting (EAS FMM), 26th ASEAN Regional Forum (ARF) and 10th Mekong Ganga Cooperation (MGC) Ministerial Meeting.&nbsp;

At the meetings, Jaishankar called for a "collective action to secure the Indo-Pacific, where terrorism remains a common scourge" while underlining "ASEAN centrality in free, open and inclusive regional architecture."&nbsp;

The focus on Indo-Pacific in Bangkok meet got more steam this year as ASEAN released its outlook on the evolving concept which China views suspiciously earlier this year.

At the ASEAN-India Ministerial Meeting, Jaishankar said, India seeks "greater connectedness with the ASEAN region," envisions "connectivity in very broad terms, including physical, economic, political connectivity and close contact at the people-to-people level."&nbsp;

While his meeting with US Secretary of State Mike Pompeo remained much talked about which came in the backdrop of American President Donald Trump's recent remarks on Kashmir. Jaishankar also met Chinese Foreign Minister Wang Yi, Malaysian Foreign Minister Datuk Saifuddin Abdullah, the new British Foreign Secretary Dominic Raab. He also met his Sri Lankan and Bangladeshi counterpart, Tilak Marapana and Dr AK Abdul Momen.&nbsp;

The meeting between Jaishankar and his Chinese counterpart ahead of his China visit on August 12, is being seen as preparatory the second India-China informal summit. The summit is set to take place by the end of this year.&nbsp; 
&nbsp;

External affairs minister S Jaishankar on Friday wrapped up his two-day visit to Thailand, during which he had 18 bilateral, four multilateral meetings. He also had five pull-aside meetings.

External affairs minister S Jaishankar on Friday wrapped up his two-day visit to Thailand, during which he had 18 bilateral, four multilateral meetings. He also had five pull-aside meetings. The focus during his bilateral and multilateral meetings was on Indo-Pacific, terrorism and India's Act East policy. The four big meetings in which Jaishankar took part includes, ASEAN-India Ministerial Meeting, the 9th East Asia Summit Foreign Ministers’ Meeting (EAS FMM), 26th ASEAN Regional Forum (ARF) and 10th Mekong Ganga Cooperation (MGC) Ministerial Meeting. At the meetings, Jaishankar called for a "collective action to secure the Indo-Pacific, where terrorism remains a common scourge" while underlining "ASEAN centrality in free, open and inclusive regional architecture." The focus on Indo-Pacific in Bangkok meet got more steam this year as ASEAN released its outlook on the evolving concept which China views suspiciously earlier this year. At the ASEAN-India Ministerial Meeting, Jaishankar said, India seeks "greater connectedness with the ASEAN region," envisions "connectivity in very broad terms, including physical, economic, political connectivity and close contact at the people-to-people level." While his meeting with US Secretary of State Mike Pompeo remained much talked about which came in the backdrop of American President Donald Trump's recent remarks on Kashmir. Jaishankar also met Chinese Foreign Minister Wang Yi, Malaysian Foreign Minister Datuk Saifuddin Abdullah, the new British Foreign Secretary Dominic Raab. He also met his Sri Lankan and Bangladeshi counterpart, Tilak Marapana and Dr AK Abdul Momen. The meeting between Jaishankar and his Chinese counterpart ahead of his China visit on August 12, is being seen as preparatory the second India-China informal summit. The summit is set to take place by the end of this year.

In 2-day Bangkok visit, S Jaishankar holds meetings with 18 foreign ministers; discusses Indo-Pacific, Act East policy

Two men from Thailand's insurgency-hit "Deep South" have been arrested linked to <a href="https://www.wionews.com/world/small-explosions-in-bangkok-as-city-hosts-asean-foreign-ministers-meet-240067">several small bomb attacks</a> which rattled Bangkok Friday as it hosted a regional summit attended by US Secretary of State Mike Pompeo, leaving four people wounded but not disrupting the diplomatic event.

Thailand, which has a grim history of political violence and is fighting a long-running rebellion in the Muslim-majority south, remains deeply divided after a controversial March election returned a junta to power as a civilian government.

Prime Minister Prayut Chan-O-Cha, who led the former junta, told reporters "there were nine successful or attempted explosions... we haven't ruled out any motives."

Two men from the far south were arrested after wires and ball bearings were found in an inactive device outside Thai police headquarters late Thursday, in what police said was a linked incident.

Police chief Jakthip Chaijinda confirmed the men came to the Muslim-majority area bordering Malaysia which is in the grip of a 15-year insurgency.

But he said it was "too early" to clearly tie them with the rebellion.

Any connection to the insurgency will cause deep alarm in Bangkok, which has failed to win peace in a conflict which has left more than 7,000 dead.

Occasionally the shadowy rebel cells take their violence outside their region to mark key anniversaries or kickback against specific Thai actions.

Outrage is boiling in the south over the treatment of a 34-year-old rebel suspect who was left in a coma hours after being taken into a notorious military interrogation centre in Pattani province.

The blasts in Bangkok Friday appeared to be symbolic attacks aimed at embarrassing the government during a major summit but not designed to cause mass casualties.

Small devices -- some believed to be so-called "ping pong bombs" around the size of a table tennis ball -- exploded at several locations across the city, none close to the summit venue.

Officials said four people were wounded.

"Reports are they were 'ping pong bombs' hidden in bushes by the road," said Renu Suesattaya, director of Suanluang district where the first bombs were reported.

Two further explosions shattered glass near a well-known downtown skyscraper, emergency police added.

Bomb disposal experts were deployed around the Mahanakorn Tower -- owned by the King Power group that counts Leicester City football club among its assets.

'Democratic fold'

Most of the dead in the highly-localised insurgency in the south are civilians, but the conflict garners few international headlines.

Malay-Muslim militants are fighting for autonomy from Thailand which annexed the region over a century ago.

Friday's bombings took place just before a keynote speech by top US diplomat Pompeo, in which he praised Thailand for rejoining the "democratic fold" after five years of outright junta rule.

The blasts come weeks after former junta leader Prayut was inaugurated as a civilian prime minister, sparking outcry among many pro-democracy supporters in a kingdom scored by divisions.

The junta manoeuvred itself back into power with the help of a fully appointed senate stacked with army loyalists and an electoral system its critics say was designed to limit the success of the pro-democracy parties.

Mass protests, coups and short-lived governments have scored Thailand's recent history.

Deadly bombings and shootings linked to politics are often carried out by shadowy forces who are never held accountable.&nbsp;

Thailand's last hosting of ASEAN in 2009 was also overshadowed by unrest.

Then, "Red Shirt" protesters smashed their way into the summit venue in the resort city of Pattaya demanding elections.

Pandemonium ensued, with a number of leaders having to be rescued from a hotel roof by Thai army helicopters while others fled by boat.

Two men from Thailand's insurgency-hit "Deep South" have been arrested linked to several small bomb attacks which rattled Bangkok Friday as it hosted a regional summit attended by US Secretary of State Mike Pompeo, leaving four people wounded but not disrupting the diplomatic event.

Two men from Thailand's insurgency-hit "Deep South" have been arrested linked to several small bomb attacks which rattled Bangkok Friday as it hosted a regional summit attended by US Secretary of State Mike Pompeo, leaving four people wounded but not disrupting the diplomatic event. Thailand, which has a grim history of political violence and is fighting a long-running rebellion in the Muslim-majority south, remains deeply divided after a controversial March election returned a junta to power as a civilian government. Prime Minister Prayut Chan-O-Cha, who led the former junta, told reporters "there were nine successful or attempted explosions... we haven't ruled out any motives." Two men from the far south were arrested after wires and ball bearings were found in an inactive device outside Thai police headquarters late Thursday, in what police said was a linked incident. Police chief Jakthip Chaijinda confirmed the men came to the Muslim-majority area bordering Malaysia which is in the grip of a 15-year insurgency. But he said it was "too early" to clearly tie them with the rebellion. Any connection to the insurgency will cause deep alarm in Bangkok, which has failed to win peace in a conflict which has left more than 7,000 dead. Occasionally the shadowy rebel cells take their violence outside their region to mark key anniversaries or kickback against specific Thai actions. Outrage is boiling in the south over the treatment of a 34-year-old rebel suspect who was left in a coma hours after being taken into a notorious military interrogation centre in Pattani province. The blasts in Bangkok Friday appeared to be symbolic attacks aimed at embarrassing the government during a major summit but not designed to cause mass casualties. Small devices -- some believed to be so-called "ping pong bombs" around the size of a table tennis ball -- exploded at several locations across the city, none close to the summit venue. Officials said four people were wounded. "Reports are they were 'ping pong bombs' hidden in bushes by the road," said Renu Suesattaya, director of Suanluang district where the first bombs were reported. Two further explosions shattered glass near a well-known downtown skyscraper, emergency police added. Bomb disposal experts were deployed around the Mahanakorn Tower -- owned by the King Power group that counts Leicester City football club among its assets. 'Democratic fold' Most of the dead in the highly-localised insurgency in the south are civilians, but the conflict garners few international headlines. Malay-Muslim militants are fighting for autonomy from Thailand which annexed the region over a century ago. Friday's bombings took place just before a keynote speech by top US diplomat Pompeo, in which he praised Thailand for rejoining the "democratic fold" after five years of outright junta rule. The blasts come weeks after former junta leader Prayut was inaugurated as a civilian prime minister, sparking outcry among many pro-democracy supporters in a kingdom scored by divisions. The junta manoeuvred itself back into power with the help of a fully appointed senate stacked with army loyalists and an electoral system its critics say was designed to limit the success of the pro-democracy parties. Mass protests, coups and short-lived governments have scored Thailand's recent history. Deadly bombings and shootings linked to politics are often carried out by shadowy forces who are never held accountable. Thailand's last hosting of ASEAN in 2009 was also overshadowed by unrest. Then, "Red Shirt" protesters smashed their way into the summit venue in the resort city of Pattaya demanding elections. Pandemonium ensued, with a number of leaders having to be rescued from a hotel roof by Thai army helicopters while others fled by boat.

Bombs rattle Bangkok during ASEAN summit, two suspects held

The leaders at the 34th <a href="https://www.wionews.com/south-asia/southeast-asian-leaders-throw-weight-behind-china-led-trade-pact-229516">ASEAN Summit</a>, that took place in Thailand on Saturday, acknowledged Indo-Pacific region as a concept for dialogue and cooperation.

They offered "<a href="https://www.wionews.com/south-east-asia/southeast-asian-leaders-meet-expected-to-discuss-rohingyas-south-china-sea-229680">ASEAN</a> Centrality" as means of engagement with all stakeholders in Indo–Pacific from the groupings such as BIMSTEC, IORA, East Asia Summit (EAS), ASEAN Regional Forum (ARF) and the ASEAN Defence Ministers Meeting Plus (ADMM-Plus). India is part of all these groups.

ASEAN Outlook stated, "Asia-Pacific and Indian Ocean regions.." are "closely integrated and interconnected region, with ASEAN playing a central and strategic role" and Indo Pacific region should be a region of "dialogue and cooperation instead of rivalry" and "development and prosperity for all"&nbsp;

Explaining, ASEAN Outlook on the Indo-Pacific is meant to "contribute to the maintenance of peace, freedom, and prosperity", it said, the grouping will "continue being an honest broker within the strategic environment of competing interests", a line which will not go unnoticed in Bejing which sees the concept with suspicion.

It elucidated several areas of cooperation from maritime to connectivity to economic. On the maritime front, it mentioned United Nations Convention on the Law of the Sea (UNCLOS) and the "freedom of navigation and overflight", which has been reiterated by backers of Indo Pacific concept in the face of increasingly aggressive China.

India has been the supporter of the concept with PM Modi giving New Delhi's vision for it twice - once at the Maldivian Parliament earlier this month, then last month at the Shangri La Dialogue.

Talking about ASEAN during his speech at the Shangri La Dialogue, PM Modi Mentioned it several times and said, "ASEAN has been and will be central to the future" of the Indo Pacific.

The leaders at the 34th ASEAN Summit, that took place in Thailand on Saturday, acknowledged Indo-Pacific region as a concept for dialogue and cooperation. They offered "ASEAN Centrality" as means of engagement with all stakeholders in Indo–Pacific from the groupings such as BIMSTEC, IORA, East Asia Summit (EAS), ASEAN Regional Forum (ARF) and the ASEAN Defence Ministers Meeting Plus (ADMM-Plus).

The leaders at the 34th ASEAN Summit, that took place in Thailand on Saturday, acknowledged Indo-Pacific region as a concept for dialogue and cooperation. They offered "ASEAN Centrality" as means of engagement with all stakeholders in Indo–Pacific from the groupings such as BIMSTEC, IORA, East Asia Summit (EAS), ASEAN Regional Forum (ARF) and the ASEAN Defence Ministers Meeting Plus (ADMM-Plus). India is part of all these groups. ASEAN Outlook stated, "Asia-Pacific and Indian Ocean regions.." are "closely integrated and interconnected region, with ASEAN playing a central and strategic role" and Indo Pacific region should be a region of "dialogue and cooperation instead of rivalry" and "development and prosperity for all" Explaining, ASEAN Outlook on the Indo-Pacific is meant to "contribute to the maintenance of peace, freedom, and prosperity", it said, the grouping will "continue being an honest broker within the strategic environment of competing interests", a line which will not go unnoticed in Bejing which sees the concept with suspicion. It elucidated several areas of cooperation from maritime to connectivity to economic. On the maritime front, it mentioned United Nations Convention on the Law of the Sea (UNCLOS) and the "freedom of navigation and overflight", which has been reiterated by backers of Indo Pacific concept in the face of increasingly aggressive China. India has been the supporter of the concept with PM Modi giving New Delhi's vision for it twice - once at the Maldivian Parliament earlier this month, then last month at the Shangri La Dialogue. Talking about ASEAN during his speech at the Shangri La Dialogue, PM Modi Mentioned it several times and said, "ASEAN has been and will be central to the future" of the Indo Pacific.

ASEAN acknowledges Indo-Pacific concept; offers its centrality as means of engagement 

Foreign ministers of the Association of Southeast Asian Nations (ASEAN) met on Saturday in Bangkok ahead of a summit of the leaders of the 10 member countries. Security was tightened around the city, and officials have said some 10,000 security personnel were set to be deployed, mindful of the incident 10 years ago when a summit of Asian leaders had to be cancelled after anti-government protesters stormed into the venue.

ASEAN foreign ministers meet ahead of Bangkok summit

If you were here in Singapore for the first time on a brief visit last week, you could be excused for wondering if it's normal for thousands of police officers to be patrolling the streets and for scores of Special Operations Command and other police vehicles to be parked all over the city. You may also be wondering if traffic is always really this bad.

Actually, no. Singapore is typically very safe and the police is usually not seen much. Neither will you hear sirens piercing the air every few minutes like in some other cities. And it's uncommon for traffic jams to occur.

Last week, besides the leaders of the 10 ASEAN countries, some of world's top leaders including Indian Prime Minister Narendra Modi, Russian President Vladimir Putin, Chinese Premier Li Keiqiang, Japanese Prime Minister Shinzo Abe, South Korean President Moon Jae-in, Canadian Prime Minister Justin Trudeau, Australian Prime Minister Scott Morrison and United States Vice President Mike Pence were in Singapore for the ASEAN Summit. Hence, the stepped-up security.

The world leaders who came, see this as a fantastic and convenient opportunity to meet at the sidelines of the summit to discuss bilateral issues especially ahead of the APEC Summit which takes place in Papua New Guinea immediately after the ASEAN conference. For example, President Putin met with Japan PM Abe as well as Vice President Pence. President Putin's attendance also allowed him to project Russia's desire to be a global influencer and show their willingness to engage with the region especially in economic matters.

The Association of Southeast Asian Nations or ASEAN is a regional intergovernmental organisation made up of 10 countries to promote and facilitate cooperation mainly in trade but also in security matters, education and culture integration and exchange. Meetings at various levels are held regularly with its secretariat located in Jakarta, Indonesia.

Together, ASEAN forms a market of US $2.6 trillion with a population of 622 million people. It is collectively the third largest economy in Asia after China and Japan and seventh largest in the world.

At the moment, the over-arching economic objective for the group is to achieve full economic integration by way of a single market fully connected with the global economy by 2025. Called the ASEAN Economic Community (AEC), it is a free trade zone copying the European Union model loosely.

In his opening address as Chairman of ASEAN, a title and responsibility which rotates among the countries every year, Singapore's Prime Minister Lee Hsien Loong said: "The international order is at a turning point. The existing free, open and rules-based multilateral system which has underpinned ASEAN's growth and stability, has come under stress. Countries, including major powers, are resorting to unilateral actions and bilateral deals, and even explicitly repudiating multilateral approaches and institutions."

Unsurprisingly, global trade uncertainties was one of the key subjects discussed at the summit.

However, the main economic topic on the agenda was the Regional Economic Comprehensive Partnership (RCEP). Other than the ASEAN countries, this agreement brings together China, Japan South Korea and, also Australia, New Zealand and India.

If completed, the RCEP will be the largest such trade agreement since the General Agreements on Tariffs and Trade (GATT) which was implemented in 1948. It will encompass 25 per cent of global gross domestic product (GDP) of US $25 trillion, 45 per cent of the total population, 30 per cent of global income and 30 per cent of global trade. Many were expecting it to be wrapped up this year but at the summit it was announced that it will be delayed till 2019. Leaders at the summit, however, were quick to emphasise that negotiations are at its final stage.

The pact is seen as vital in securing the region's continued prosperity, especially after a trade war broke out between its vital trading partners, US and China.

Although Prime Minister Modi urged an early conclusion to RCEP talks, it is not clear at this stage what level of commitment India has in participating. The RCEP is a traditional trade pact which cuts tariffs on tradable goods whereas India's strength is in the services sector. India is believed to be holding up for better market access for its professionals and to the services sector than is currently offered.

India also complained that imports to India from ASEAN has grown faster than Indian exports to the bloc. New Delhi is reluctant to cut tariffs and open its markets in the face of strong opposition from its farming as well as steel and textiles industries. The dilemma facing India is exacerbated by the fact that strategic rival China is part of the agreement although China is an important trading partner as well.

On the other hand, ASEAN nations are increasingly investing in India, including in ports, highways, townships and food processing. It was noted at the summit that with the Modi government improving ease of doing business, investment and trade with ASEAN has grown. Despite good progress being made on the India-Myanmar-Thailand trilateral highway with an extension to Laos, Cambodia and Vietnam, ASEAN has called for better maritime, air, land and digital connectivity between ASEAN and India.

With the Indian general elections expected next year, the RCEP negotiations come at a sensitive time for PM Modi.

India is the sixth largest trading partner of ASEAN having signed the India-ASEAN FTA (free trade agreement) in 2010 and bilateral trade is valued at US$80 billion but this is seen by economists as far short of its true potential.

PM Lee of Singapore urged India to be part of RCEP saying: "Together with the ASEAN-India Free Trade Area, we hope that this will help us reach the ASEAN-India trade target of US $200 billion in total trade by 2022."

If India can address its national interests through the on-going talks, the RCEP is a promising vehicle that can help a reluctant India which traditionally shies away from trade pacts, expands its markets through incorporation into a truly open trading bloc.

If you were here in Singapore for the first time on a brief visit last week, you could be excused for wondering if it's normal for thousands of police officers to be patrolling the streets and for scores of Special Operations Command and other police vehicles to be parked all over the city.

If you were here in Singapore for the first time on a brief visit last week, you could be excused for wondering if it's normal for thousands of police officers to be patrolling the streets and for scores of Special Operations Command and other police vehicles to be parked all over the city. You may also be wondering if traffic is always really this bad. Actually, no. Singapore is typically very safe and the police is usually not seen much. Neither will you hear sirens piercing the air every few minutes like in some other cities. And it's uncommon for traffic jams to occur. Last week, besides the leaders of the 10 ASEAN countries, some of world's top leaders including Indian Prime Minister Narendra Modi, Russian President Vladimir Putin, Chinese Premier Li Keiqiang, Japanese Prime Minister Shinzo Abe, South Korean President Moon Jae-in, Canadian Prime Minister Justin Trudeau, Australian Prime Minister Scott Morrison and United States Vice President Mike Pence were in Singapore for the ASEAN Summit. Hence, the stepped-up security. The world leaders who came, see this as a fantastic and convenient opportunity to meet at the sidelines of the summit to discuss bilateral issues especially ahead of the APEC Summit which takes place in Papua New Guinea immediately after the ASEAN conference. For example, President Putin met with Japan PM Abe as well as Vice President Pence. President Putin's attendance also allowed him to project Russia's desire to be a global influencer and show their willingness to engage with the region especially in economic matters. The Association of Southeast Asian Nations or ASEAN is a regional intergovernmental organisation made up of 10 countries to promote and facilitate cooperation mainly in trade but also in security matters, education and culture integration and exchange. Meetings at various levels are held regularly with its secretariat located in Jakarta, Indonesia. Together, ASEAN forms a market of US $2.6 trillion with a population of 622 million people. It is collectively the third largest economy in Asia after China and Japan and seventh largest in the world. At the moment, the over-arching economic objective for the group is to achieve full economic integration by way of a single market fully connected with the global economy by 2025. Called the ASEAN Economic Community (AEC), it is a free trade zone copying the European Union model loosely. In his opening address as Chairman of ASEAN, a title and responsibility which rotates among the countries every year, Singapore's Prime Minister Lee Hsien Loong said: "The international order is at a turning point. The existing free, open and rules-based multilateral system which has underpinned ASEAN's growth and stability, has come under stress. Countries, including major powers, are resorting to unilateral actions and bilateral deals, and even explicitly repudiating multilateral approaches and institutions." Unsurprisingly, global trade uncertainties was one of the key subjects discussed at the summit. However, the main economic topic on the agenda was the Regional Economic Comprehensive Partnership (RCEP). Other than the ASEAN countries, this agreement brings together China, Japan South Korea and, also Australia, New Zealand and India. If completed, the RCEP will be the largest such trade agreement since the General Agreements on Tariffs and Trade (GATT) which was implemented in 1948. It will encompass 25 per cent of global gross domestic product (GDP) of US $25 trillion, 45 per cent of the total population, 30 per cent of global income and 30 per cent of global trade. Many were expecting it to be wrapped up this year but at the summit it was announced that it will be delayed till 2019. Leaders at the summit, however, were quick to emphasise that negotiations are at its final stage. The pact is seen as vital in securing the region's continued prosperity, especially after a trade war broke out between its vital trading partners, US and China. Although Prime Minister Modi urged an early conclusion to RCEP talks, it is not clear at this stage what level of commitment India has in participating. The RCEP is a traditional trade pact which cuts tariffs on tradable goods whereas India's strength is in the services sector. India is believed to be holding up for better market access for its professionals and to the services sector than is currently offered. India also complained that imports to India from ASEAN has grown faster than Indian exports to the bloc. New Delhi is reluctant to cut tariffs and open its markets in the face of strong opposition from its farming as well as steel and textiles industries. The dilemma facing India is exacerbated by the fact that strategic rival China is part of the agreement although China is an important trading partner as well. On the other hand, ASEAN nations are increasingly investing in India, including in ports, highways, townships and food processing. It was noted at the summit that with the Modi government improving ease of doing business, investment and trade with ASEAN has grown. Despite good progress being made on the India-Myanmar-Thailand trilateral highway with an extension to Laos, Cambodia and Vietnam, ASEAN has called for better maritime, air, land and digital connectivity between ASEAN and India. With the Indian general elections expected next year, the RCEP negotiations come at a sensitive time for PM Modi. India is the sixth largest trading partner of ASEAN having signed the India-ASEAN FTA (free trade agreement) in 2010 and bilateral trade is valued at US$80 billion but this is seen by economists as far short of its true potential. PM Lee of Singapore urged India to be part of RCEP saying: "Together with the ASEAN-India Free Trade Area, we hope that this will help us reach the ASEAN-India trade target of US $200 billion in total trade by 2022." If India can address its national interests through the on-going talks, the RCEP is a promising vehicle that can help a reluctant India which traditionally shies away from trade pacts, expands its markets through incorporation into a truly open trading bloc.

ASEAN Summit: Is India serious about regional trade pact?

Prime Minister Narendra Modi is in Singapore this week to attend the East Asia Summit, ASEAN-India informal meet and the Regional Comprehensive Economic Partnership (RCEP) Summit. The Indian prime minister became the first head of government to deliver an address at the Singapore Fintech Festival, one of the largest events on financial technology, where he launched APIX, a banking technology designed to reach two billion people worldwide who are still without bank accounts.&nbsp;

PM Modi underlined the growing digitisation of the Indian economy and showcased India’s role in the shaping of global financial technologies which are not merely disruptive but also inclusive.

It is, however, the geopolitics and geo-economics of the changing Indo-Pacific which will be the focus of most of Modi’s engagements at various levels. The RCEP, accounting for almost 40 per cent of global trade, remains an important grouping for the 16 members — the 10-member ASEAN plus India, China, Japan, South Korea, Australia and New Zealand. It is a rather ambitious undertaking and despite repeated calls for an early conclusion, it remains mired in multiple issues which are thorny in nature. Though progress on the negotiations has been slow since they began in 2013, the Trump administration’s protectionist policies have given the negotiations a new momentum. It is now being hoped that the pact may now be concluded next year. India too has found it difficult to generate a domestic consensus on RCEP and it is likely that tough decisions on tariff reductions will now be taken only after elections next year, though Commerce Minister Suresh Prabhu underscored that New Delhi was “very happy that India’s concerns have been taken on board, and... country will benefit from it.”

The East Asia Summit will be India exploring wide-ranging issues pertaining to smart cities, IT, communication, maritime cooperation and terrorism with 17 other participating leaders. EAS has now emerged as the most critical multilateral framework in the Indo-Pacific where multiple stakeholders engage each other annually. The East Asia Summit, which includes India, China, Japan, South Korea, Australia, New Zealand, the US and Russia apart from the 10 ASEAN member states, also gives India an opportunity to underline its credentials as an important stakeholder in regional developments.

PM Modi will also participate in the ASEAN India Bilateral Summit where progress in the goals set in the Delhi Declaration of the ASEAN India Commemorative Summit will be discussed. Addressing last year’s ASEAN-India Summit in Manila, Modi underscored India’s relationship with ASEAN is a key pillar of its foreign policy. Referring to India’s Act East Policy, he had underlined that “its centrality in the regional security architecture of the Indo-Pacific region is evident”. In a symbolic move, all 10 ASEAN heads of State were invited to be guests of honour for this year’s Republic Day function. Targeting China, Modi had also assured ASEAN of “steady support towards achieving a rules-based regional security architecture that best attests to the region’s interests and its peaceful development.”

India has repeatedly underscored the centrality of the ASEAN in its Indo-Pacific vision. In his keynote address at the Shangri La Dialogue earlier this year too, Modi had suggested that India will promote a democratic and rules-based international order in the Indo-Pacific with ASEAN at its heart, that allows free access to common spaces and is not limited to a ‘club of limited members.’

It is in this context, it is interesting that despite suggestions that nothing much has been happening on the Quad front, the third meeting of Quad countries — India, the US, Japan and Australia — at the joint secretary-level will also take place in Singapore. It is clear that these four nations do not want to let go of the momentum that is gradually building up. There may be little substance in the engagement at the moment but all four states remain keen to leverage it in some form.

The Indo-Pacific region is now central to global politics and economics, and recent days have merely reinforced the trends that have been emerging for some time. China is the most important player in the region, and Beijing is now more confident than ever of projecting regional and global power. In this, China has had the good fortune of having an administration in the US that lacks seriousness of purpose and is unable to communicate effectively its priorities for the region. This makes this period of transition very significant for countries like India that have a stake in the long-term stability of the region. As China’s profile grows, there is a new opportunity for India in the region. Unlike in the past, New Delhi is no longer diffident about engaging with other regional players if it helps to further Indian interests in maintaining a stable balance of power in the region.

(This article was originally published on DNA. Read the <a href="https://www.dnaindia.com/analysis/column-asean-furthering-india-s-interests-in-indo-pacific-2685730">original article</a>)

(Disclaimer: The opinions expressed above are the personal views of the author and do not reflect the views of ZMCL) 
&nbsp;

Prime Minister Narendra Modi is in Singapore this week to attend the East Asia Summit, ASEAN-India informal meet and the Regional Comprehensive Economic Partnership (RCEP) Summit.

Prime Minister Narendra Modi is in Singapore this week to attend the East Asia Summit, ASEAN-India informal meet and the Regional Comprehensive Economic Partnership (RCEP) Summit. The Indian prime minister became the first head of government to deliver an address at the Singapore Fintech Festival, one of the largest events on financial technology, where he launched APIX, a banking technology designed to reach two billion people worldwide who are still without bank accounts. PM Modi underlined the growing digitisation of the Indian economy and showcased India’s role in the shaping of global financial technologies which are not merely disruptive but also inclusive. It is, however, the geopolitics and geo-economics of the changing Indo-Pacific which will be the focus of most of Modi’s engagements at various levels. The RCEP, accounting for almost 40 per cent of global trade, remains an important grouping for the 16 members — the 10-member ASEAN plus India, China, Japan, South Korea, Australia and New Zealand. It is a rather ambitious undertaking and despite repeated calls for an early conclusion, it remains mired in multiple issues which are thorny in nature. Though progress on the negotiations has been slow since they began in 2013, the Trump administration’s protectionist policies have given the negotiations a new momentum. It is now being hoped that the pact may now be concluded next year. India too has found it difficult to generate a domestic consensus on RCEP and it is likely that tough decisions on tariff reductions will now be taken only after elections next year, though Commerce Minister Suresh Prabhu underscored that New Delhi was “very happy that India’s concerns have been taken on board, and... country will benefit from it.” The East Asia Summit will be India exploring wide-ranging issues pertaining to smart cities, IT, communication, maritime cooperation and terrorism with 17 other participating leaders. EAS has now emerged as the most critical multilateral framework in the Indo-Pacific where multiple stakeholders engage each other annually. The East Asia Summit, which includes India, China, Japan, South Korea, Australia, New Zealand, the US and Russia apart from the 10 ASEAN member states, also gives India an opportunity to underline its credentials as an important stakeholder in regional developments. PM Modi will also participate in the ASEAN India Bilateral Summit where progress in the goals set in the Delhi Declaration of the ASEAN India Commemorative Summit will be discussed. Addressing last year’s ASEAN-India Summit in Manila, Modi underscored India’s relationship with ASEAN is a key pillar of its foreign policy. Referring to India’s Act East Policy, he had underlined that “its centrality in the regional security architecture of the Indo-Pacific region is evident”. In a symbolic move, all 10 ASEAN heads of State were invited to be guests of honour for this year’s Republic Day function. Targeting China, Modi had also assured ASEAN of “steady support towards achieving a rules-based regional security architecture that best attests to the region’s interests and its peaceful development.” India has repeatedly underscored the centrality of the ASEAN in its Indo-Pacific vision. In his keynote address at the Shangri La Dialogue earlier this year too, Modi had suggested that India will promote a democratic and rules-based international order in the Indo-Pacific with ASEAN at its heart, that allows free access to common spaces and is not limited to a ‘club of limited members.’ It is in this context, it is interesting that despite suggestions that nothing much has been happening on the Quad front, the third meeting of Quad countries — India, the US, Japan and Australia — at the joint secretary-level will also take place in Singapore. It is clear that these four nations do not want to let go of the momentum that is gradually building up. There may be little substance in the engagement at the moment but all four states remain keen to leverage it in some form. The Indo-Pacific region is now central to global politics and economics, and recent days have merely reinforced the trends that have been emerging for some time. China is the most important player in the region, and Beijing is now more confident than ever of projecting regional and global power. In this, China has had the good fortune of having an administration in the US that lacks seriousness of purpose and is unable to communicate effectively its priorities for the region. This makes this period of transition very significant for countries like India that have a stake in the long-term stability of the region. As China’s profile grows, there is a new opportunity for India in the region. Unlike in the past, New Delhi is no longer diffident about engaging with other regional players if it helps to further Indian interests in maintaining a stable balance of power in the region. (This article was originally published on DNA. Read the original article) (Disclaimer: The opinions expressed above are the personal views of the author and do not reflect the views of ZMCL)

Furthering India’s interests in Indo-Pacific region

PM Modi leaves for Singapore to attend 13th ASEAN summit

33rd ASEAN Summit opens in Singapore

<a href="http://www.wionews.com/india-news/pm-to-address-plenary-session-of-india-asean-commemorative-summit-today-30707">Prime Minister Narendra Modi</a> is holding bilateral meetings with the leaders of all 10 ASEAN countries who have gathered in New Delhi to join him in the Republic Day celebrations. This will be the <a href="http://www.wionews.com/india-news/south-asian-leaders-arrive-in-india-for-indo-asean-summit-30685">biggest ever gathering of foreign leaders</a> at the Republic Day parade that showcases India&#39;s military might and cultural diversity.

Under its &#39;Act East&#39; policy, New Delhi is pushing to boost its relationship via connectivity, commerce and culture with this regional bloc.

In talks with Philippines President Rodrigo Duterte on Wednesday, PM Modi discussed trade and investment, defence and security, education, and people-to-people cooperation.

&quot;An agreement to facilitate investment was signed,&quot; External Affairs Ministry spokesperson Raveesh Kumar said on Twitter.

India-Philippines bilateral trade stood at nearly $2 billion in 2016-17. In 2016-17, India&#39;s exports amounted to $1.487 billion and imports totaled $494 million.

The Philippines also showed interest in studying and implementing a digital identity system <a href="http://www.wionews.com/india-news/asean-summit-philippines-shows-interest-in-aadhaar-30741">inspired by India&rsquo;s Aadhaar</a> and the software stack built around it. According to sources, the Philippines has sent queries for details to know about the Aadhaar details.

Modi visited the Philippines in November last year to attend the ASEAN-India Summit. It was the first prime ministerial visit from India to that southeast Asian nation in 36 years since the visit of then Prime Minister Indira Gandhi in 1981. During that visit, the two countries signed a defence cooperation agreement, including in the area of off-shore patrol vehicles. The Filipino defence minister is expected to visit India soon for further talks.

Modi and Duterte agreed to encourage their private sectors to collaborate as part of India&#39;s &#39;Act East&#39; policy and the Philippines&#39;s Build-Build-Build programme.

Prior to his meeting with Duterte, Modi held bilateral meetings with Myanmar State Counsellor Aung San Suu Kyi. &quot;The two leaders had a productive discussion on intensifying bilateral cooperation, including follow up on key decisions taken during Prime Minister&#39;s visit to Myanmar in September 2017,&quot; External Affairs Ministry Spokesperson Raveesh Kumar tweeted.

The meeting assumes significance in the wake of the exodus of Rohingya refugees from the Rakhine state in Myanmar to Bangladesh since August last year.

Modi also met his Vietnamese counterpart Nguyen Xuan Phuc. After the meeting, India and Vietnam signed agreements in the areas of information and broadcasting, and space cooperation.

According to Kumar, Modi and Phuc &quot;discussed cooperation in trade and investment, defence, maritime and other areas&quot;.

During Modi&#39;s visit to Vietnam in September 2016, the India-Vietnam relationship was upgraded to Comprehensive Strategic Partnership which Hanoi only has with Moscow and Beijing. India also plans to share the BrahMos missile system with Vietnam.

India and the Southeast Asia nations have stressed the need for freedom of navigation and open seas and India already has strong naval ties with countries such as Singapore, Vietnam, Indonesia, Thailand and Malaysia.

But several Southeast Asian countries locked in territorial disputes with China have sought even greater Indian engagement in the region, experts say.

&quot;China&#39;s distinctly hegemonic moves in the last few years in the South China Sea and its growing assertiveness have made ASEAN look towards India as a partner for equilibrium,&quot; said Arvind Gupta, former Indian deputy national security adviser who now heads the influential Vivekananda International Foundation in New Delhi with close ties to the ruling government.

The ASEAN comprises Brunei, Cambodia, Indonesia, Laos, Malaysia, Myanmar, the Philippines, Singapore, Thailand and Vietnam.

Under its 'Act East' policy, New Delhi is pushing to boost its relationship via connectivity, commerce and culture with this regional bloc.

Prime Minister Narendra Modi is holding bilateral meetings with the leaders of all 10 ASEAN countries who have gathered in New Delhi to join him in the Republic Day celebrations. This will be the biggest ever gathering of foreign leaders at the Republic Day parade that showcases India's military might and cultural diversity. Under its 'Act East' policy, New Delhi is pushing to boost its relationship via connectivity, commerce and culture with this regional bloc. In talks with Philippines President Rodrigo Duterte on Wednesday, PM Modi discussed trade and investment, defence and security, education, and people-to-people cooperation. "An agreement to facilitate investment was signed," External Affairs Ministry spokesperson Raveesh Kumar said on Twitter. India-Philippines bilateral trade stood at nearly $2 billion in 2016-17. In 2016-17, India's exports amounted to $1.487 billion and imports totaled $494 million. The Philippines also showed interest in studying and implementing a digital identity system inspired by India’s Aadhaar and the software stack built around it. According to sources, the Philippines has sent queries for details to know about the Aadhaar details. Modi visited the Philippines in November last year to attend the ASEAN-India Summit. It was the first prime ministerial visit from India to that southeast Asian nation in 36 years since the visit of then Prime Minister Indira Gandhi in 1981. During that visit, the two countries signed a defence cooperation agreement, including in the area of off-shore patrol vehicles. The Filipino defence minister is expected to visit India soon for further talks. Modi and Duterte agreed to encourage their private sectors to collaborate as part of India's 'Act East' policy and the Philippines's Build-Build-Build programme. Prior to his meeting with Duterte, Modi held bilateral meetings with Myanmar State Counsellor Aung San Suu Kyi. "The two leaders had a productive discussion on intensifying bilateral cooperation, including follow up on key decisions taken during Prime Minister's visit to Myanmar in September 2017," External Affairs Ministry Spokesperson Raveesh Kumar tweeted. The meeting assumes significance in the wake of the exodus of Rohingya refugees from the Rakhine state in Myanmar to Bangladesh since August last year. Modi also met his Vietnamese counterpart Nguyen Xuan Phuc. After the meeting, India and Vietnam signed agreements in the areas of information and broadcasting, and space cooperation. According to Kumar, Modi and Phuc "discussed cooperation in trade and investment, defence, maritime and other areas". During Modi's visit to Vietnam in September 2016, the India-Vietnam relationship was upgraded to Comprehensive Strategic Partnership which Hanoi only has with Moscow and Beijing. India also plans to share the BrahMos missile system with Vietnam. India and the Southeast Asia nations have stressed the need for freedom of navigation and open seas and India already has strong naval ties with countries such as Singapore, Vietnam, Indonesia, Thailand and Malaysia. But several Southeast Asian countries locked in territorial disputes with China have sought even greater Indian engagement in the region, experts say. "China's distinctly hegemonic moves in the last few years in the South China Sea and its growing assertiveness have made ASEAN look towards India as a partner for equilibrium," said Arvind Gupta, former Indian deputy national security adviser who now heads the influential Vivekananda International Foundation in New Delhi with close ties to the ruling government. The ASEAN comprises Brunei, Cambodia, Indonesia, Laos, Malaysia, Myanmar, the Philippines, Singapore, Thailand and Vietnam.

From Aadhaar to trade and commerce: Here's what PM Modi discussed with ASEAN leaders

The Philippines&nbsp;has shown interest&nbsp;in studying and implementing a digital identity system inspired by India&rsquo;s Aadhaar and the software stack built around it.

According to sources, the leader from the Philippines&nbsp;have sent queries for details to know about the Aadhaar details.

The Philippines interest towards Aadhaar has come amidst&nbsp;the apex&nbsp;court in India is hearing petitions challenging the constitutional validity of the Aadhaar Act as a violation of the right to privacy.

According to a recently released investigative report a major data breach relating to Aadhaar came out where details were sold out for Rs 500.&nbsp;

President of Philippines Rodrigo Duterte arrived in India Wednesday for the two day ASEAN Summit to be held on 25 and 26 January.&nbsp;

The summit will mark the 25 years of the Indo-ASEAN Summit.

The event will be attended by ten leaders of different South Asian countries who will also be the guest for Republic Day celebrations in Delhi.

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According to sources, the leader from the Philippines have sent queries for details to know about the Aadhaar details

The Philippines has shown interest in studying and implementing a digital identity system inspired by India’s Aadhaar and the software stack built around it. According to sources, the leader from the Philippines have sent queries for details to know about the Aadhaar details. The Philippines interest towards Aadhaar has come amidst the apex court in India is hearing petitions challenging the constitutional validity of the Aadhaar Act as a violation of the right to privacy. According to a recently released investigative report a major data breach relating to Aadhaar came out where details were sold out for Rs 500. President of Philippines Rodrigo Duterte arrived in India Wednesday for the two day ASEAN Summit to be held on 25 and 26 January. The summit will mark the 25 years of the Indo-ASEAN Summit. The event will be attended by ten leaders of different South Asian countries who will also be the guest for Republic Day celebrations in Delhi.

ASEAN Summit: Philippines shows interest in Aadhaar

Indian Prime Minister Narendra Modi and US President Trump had a meeting on November 13, 2017, on the sidelines of the ASEAN and East Asia Summit held in Manila. This was days after India attended a meeting with Japanese, Australians and the US (this grouping has been dubbed as the Quad). Off late, the US has also spoken about a greater role for India in the Indo-Pacific, first Secretary of State Rex Tillerson did so, and during his visit to Asia, the US President Trump has referred to the Asia-Pacific as the Indo-Pacific much to the chagrin of the Chinese.

The Indian prime minister&rsquo;s emphasis on the need for New Delhi-Washington ties moving beyond the bilateral context was a clear reference to a greater role for India in the Indo-Pacific and greater cooperation between New Delhi and Washington DC.

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<h5>The US President while highlighting India&rsquo;s democratic credentials and diversity, laid special emphasis on the stellar economic progress made by India.</h5>
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Indian Prime Minister said, &quot;The cooperation between India and US can rise beyond bilateral cooperation and both countries can work for the future of Asia and the world. We are moving ahead together on many issues,&quot; Modi told Trump in his opening remarks&rsquo; Modi also expressed gratitude to Trump for expressing optimism with regard to the India growth story and stated that India would live up to US expectations.

Trump had lavished praise on India while addressing a gathering of CEO&#39;s on the sidelines of the APEC Summit in Vietnam. The US President while highlighting India&rsquo;s democratic credentials and diversity, laid special emphasis on the stellar economic progress made by India. Said Trump: &ldquo;Since India opened its economy, it has achieved astounding growth and a new world of opportunities for its expanding middle class&rsquo;.

While there is a clear synergy, a few questions need to be kept in mind. The US President is transactional and unpredictable. While New Delhi should be happy with the current administration&rsquo;s repeated calls for granting a larger role to India in the Indo-Pacific, New Delhi should not forget that Trump himself has given mixed signals with regard to the US role in the Indo-Pacific. Initially, the US President had backed a more isolationist role for the US, confusing its allies like Japan and South Korea. Only on the issue of North Korea, Trump has taken an unequivocally harsh stance. 
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Secondly, while Trump may at times make belligerent statements against China. Beijing has read him very well and understood that business deals work as a sweetener for the US President. This was clearly evident from Trump&rsquo;s recent China visit where the Chinese apart from laying out a red carpet, also signed business deals to the tune of 250 billion USD (the sceptics believe that many of these are MOU&#39;s).

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<h5>While the Trump administration has made the right noises on Pakistan, New Delhi should not expect Washington to dump Islamabad or Rawalpindi.</h5>
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<div class="share-blockquote"><a class="twitter popup" href="http://twitter.com/intent/tweet?text=While the Trump administration has made the right noises on Pakistan, New Delhi should not expect Washington to dump Islamabad or Rawalpindi." target="_blank">&nbsp;</a></div>
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Post the meeting between&nbsp;Trump and Xi, the US President&rsquo;s tone totally changed. While Washington having good ties with Beijing is not bad news for India, Trump&#39;s flip-flops certainly send a clear message that New Delhi should not solely depend upon Trump for its Indo-Pacific strategy, and neither should it&#39;s China policy be an extension of Washington&#39;s. Given their economic clout, the Chinese are in a good position to outmanoeuvre Trump. 
&nbsp; 
Third, while the Trump administration has made the right noises on Pakistan, New Delhi should not expect Washington to dump Islamabad or Rawalpindi. Old hands in the state department will not let go so easily, and even on Afghanistan, Washington&rsquo;s policy will not echo India&rsquo;s though the synergies may increase. PM Modi&rsquo;s mention of India&rsquo;s recent decision to send a consignment of wheat to Afghanistan via Chabahar (Iran) sent an important message that just as Washington has its own priorities, so does New Delhi. 
&nbsp; 
What are India&rsquo;s options

While the scepticism with regard to being part of a US-led alliance is over the top, the Quad in itself is not an answer to India&rsquo;s strategic challenges &ndash; especially with the rise of China. India&rsquo;s most reliable partner is Japan and Australia, which of&nbsp;late has witnessed significant strains in the relationship, and should be given high top priority. 
&nbsp; 
Second, New Delhi should continue to explore synergies with China, but New Delhi should draw some red lines. China&rsquo;s approach of turning a blind eye towards the activities of Pakistani terror groups targeting India, especially its recent decision to block the UN ban on Azhar Masood should not go unnoticed. New Delhi should look at reducing economic dependence upon Chinese goods, and look at other alternatives. This can not happen overnight but should be an incremental process.

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<h5>While New Delhi needs to get out of embedded biases&nbsp;and suspicion of the US, it also needs to realise, that it will have to fight its own battles.</h5>
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<div class="share-blockquote"><a class="twitter popup" href="http://twitter.com/intent/tweet?text=While New Delhi needs to get out of embedded biases?and suspicion of the US, it also needs to realise, that it will have to fight its own battles." target="_blank">&nbsp;</a></div>
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Third, India has understood the importance of personalised diplomacy with Trump, and the importance he gives to business in bilateral relationships. This is useful, though not enough given the US President&#39;s flip-flops. Apart from this, a lot also depends upon the US President&#39;s domestic political capital. A vulnerable Trump could be even more isolationist and this does not help India&#39;s cause in any way. 
&nbsp; 
In conclusion, while New Delhi needs to get out of embedded biases&nbsp;and suspicion of the US, it also needs to realise, that it will have to fight its own battles. China&rsquo;s increasing leverage clearly shows that robust economic growth enhances diplomatic clout. Western democracies which pontificate about Human Rights and Democracy, have had to meekly surrender vis-&agrave;-vis Beijing on more than one occasion.

India needs to develop business bilateral ties in order to fight its own battle.

Indian Prime Minister Narendra Modi and US President Trump had a meeting on November 13, 2017, on the sidelines of the ASEAN and East Asia Summit held in Manila. This was days after India attended a meeting with Japanese, Australians and the US (this grouping has been dubbed as the Quad). Off late, the US has also spoken about a greater role for India in the Indo-Pacific, first Secretary of State Rex Tillerson did so, and during his visit to Asia, the US President Trump has referred to the Asia-Pacific as the Indo-Pacific much to the chagrin of the Chinese. The Indian prime minister’s emphasis on the need for New Delhi-Washington ties moving beyond the bilateral context was a clear reference to a greater role for India in the Indo-Pacific and greater cooperation between New Delhi and Washington DC. The US President while highlighting India’s democratic credentials and diversity, laid special emphasis on the stellar economic progress made by India. × Indian Prime Minister said, "The cooperation between India and US can rise beyond bilateral cooperation and both countries can work for the future of Asia and the world. We are moving ahead together on many issues," Modi told Trump in his opening remarks’ Modi also expressed gratitude to Trump for expressing optimism with regard to the India growth story and stated that India would live up to US expectations. Trump had lavished praise on India while addressing a gathering of CEO's on the sidelines of the APEC Summit in Vietnam. The US President while highlighting India’s democratic credentials and diversity, laid special emphasis on the stellar economic progress made by India. Said Trump: “Since India opened its economy, it has achieved astounding growth and a new world of opportunities for its expanding middle class’. While there is a clear synergy, a few questions need to be kept in mind. The US President is transactional and unpredictable. While New Delhi should be happy with the current administration’s repeated calls for granting a larger role to India in the Indo-Pacific, New Delhi should not forget that Trump himself has given mixed signals with regard to the US role in the Indo-Pacific. Initially, the US President had backed a more isolationist role for the US, confusing its allies like Japan and South Korea. Only on the issue of North Korea, Trump has taken an unequivocally harsh stance. Secondly, while Trump may at times make belligerent statements against China. Beijing has read him very well and understood that business deals work as a sweetener for the US President. This was clearly evident from Trump’s recent China visit where the Chinese apart from laying out a red carpet, also signed business deals to the tune of 250 billion USD (the sceptics believe that many of these are MOU's). While the Trump administration has made the right noises on Pakistan, New Delhi should not expect Washington to dump Islamabad or Rawalpindi. × Post the meeting between Trump and Xi, the US President’s tone totally changed. While Washington having good ties with Beijing is not bad news for India, Trump's flip-flops certainly send a clear message that New Delhi should not solely depend upon Trump for its Indo-Pacific strategy, and neither should it's China policy be an extension of Washington's. Given their economic clout, the Chinese are in a good position to outmanoeuvre Trump. Third, while the Trump administration has made the right noises on Pakistan, New Delhi should not expect Washington to dump Islamabad or Rawalpindi. Old hands in the state department will not let go so easily, and even on Afghanistan, Washington’s policy will not echo India’s though the synergies may increase. PM Modi’s mention of India’s recent decision to send a consignment of wheat to Afghanistan via Chabahar (Iran) sent an important message that just as Washington has its own priorities, so does New Delhi. What are India’s options While the scepticism with regard to being part of a US-led alliance is over the top, the Quad in itself is not an answer to India’s strategic challenges – especially with the rise of China. India’s most reliable partner is Japan and Australia, which of late has witnessed significant strains in the relationship, and should be given high top priority. Second, New Delhi should continue to explore synergies with China, but New Delhi should draw some red lines. China’s approach of turning a blind eye towards the activities of Pakistani terror groups targeting India, especially its recent decision to block the UN ban on Azhar Masood should not go unnoticed. New Delhi should look at reducing economic dependence upon Chinese goods, and look at other alternatives. This can not happen overnight but should be an incremental process. While New Delhi needs to get out of embedded biases and suspicion of the US, it also needs to realise, that it will have to fight its own battles. × Third, India has understood the importance of personalised diplomacy with Trump, and the importance he gives to business in bilateral relationships. This is useful, though not enough given the US President's flip-flops. Apart from this, a lot also depends upon the US President's domestic political capital. A vulnerable Trump could be even more isolationist and this does not help India's cause in any way. In conclusion, while New Delhi needs to get out of embedded biases and suspicion of the US, it also needs to realise, that it will have to fight its own battles. China’s increasing leverage clearly shows that robust economic growth enhances diplomatic clout. Western democracies which pontificate about Human Rights and Democracy, have had to meekly surrender vis-à-vis Beijing on more than one occasion.

Trump unreliable; India needs robust economy to counter China

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