In 1967, the governments of Malaysia, Indonesia, the Philippines, Thailand, and Singapore founded the Association of Southeast Asian Nations (ASEAN) to promote economic growth, peace, security, social progress, and cultural development in the Southeast Asian region. On the invitation of Brunei, the current ASEAN Chair, India recently attended the 18th ASEAN-India Summit. This article focuses on ASEAN India Summit and its various aspects for the UPSC Entrance Exams.

ASEAN

• In 1967, the governments of Malaysia, Indonesia, the Philippines, Thailand, and Singapore founded the Association of Southeast Asian Nations (ASEAN) to promote economic growth, peace, security, social progress, and cultural development in the Southeast Asian region.
• The founding fathers of the countries of Indonesia, Malaysia, Thailand, Singapore, and the Philippines signed the Bangkok Declaration (also known as the ASEAN Declaration) on August 8, 1967, in Bangkok, Thailand.
• The members of ASEAN are

1. Thailand (founding member)
2. The Philippines (founding member)
3. Malaysia (founding member)
4. Singapore (founding member)
5. Indonesia (founding member)
6. Brunei (joined in 1984)
7. Vietnam (joined in 1995)
8. Lao PDR (joined in 1997)
9. Myanmar (joined in 1997)
10. Cambodia (joined in 1999)

• The headquarters of the organisation is in Jakarta, Indonesia.
• Dato Lim Jock Hoi is Secretary-General of ASEAN
• Three pillars make up the ASEAN Community:
• Political-Security Community of ASEAN
• Economic Community of ASEAN
• ASEAN Socio-Cultural Community (ASEAN Socio-Cultural Community)

ASEAN's Timeline

• 1967 - The founding fathers of ASEAN sign the ASEAN Declaration (Bangkok Declaration) to formalise the organisation.
  • Indonesia, Malaysia, the Philippines, Singapore, and Thailand are the founding fathers of ASEAN.
• 1990 - Following the conclusion of the Vietnam War in 1975 and the end of the Cold War in 1991, membership in the organisation increased.
  • Brunei (1984), Vietnam (1995), Laos and Myanmar (1997), and Cambodia were all included (1999).
• 1995 - Members agree to establish a nuclear-free zone in Southeast Asia.
• 1997 - The ASEAN Vision 2020 is adopted.
• 2003 - Bali Concord II, signed in 2003, calls for the formation of an ASEAN Community.
• 2007 - Cebu Declaration, aiming to hasten the formation of the ASEAN Community by 2015.
• 2008 - The ASEAN Charter enters into force, making it a legally enforceable pact.
• 2015 - The ASEAN Community was established.

ASEAN Purpose

• To create the foundation for a prosperous and peaceful community of Southeast Asian nations by accelerating economic growth, social progress, and cultural development in the area via cooperative efforts in the spirit of equality and partnership.
• To promote regional peace and stability by upholding justice and the rule of law in regional interactions and adhering to the United Nations Charter's ideals.
• To encourage active collaboration and mutual support in the economic, social, cultural, technological, scientific, and administrative spheres on subjects of common interest.
• To support one another in the educational, professional, technical, and administrative domains by providing training and research facilities.
• Southeast Asian studies should be promoted
• Maintaining close and beneficial cooperation with existing international and regional organisations with comparable goals and objectives, as well as exploring all options for even closer cooperation among themselves.

ASEAN-India Summit

• ASEAN-India Summit is a yearly summit. It provides an opportunity for India and Asean to engage at the highest level.
• On the invitation of Brunei, the current ASEAN Chair, India recently attended the 18th ASEAN-India Summit.
• The leaders have designated 2022 as the Year of ASEAN-Indian Friendship.
• India also participated in the 17th ASEAN-India Summit in Vietnam. The 17th Summit focused on recovering from the COVID-19 pandemic.

Significance of ASEAN for India

Economic Significance

• India's ASEAN relations will be shaped by the three Cs: culture, connectivity, and commerce.
• Establishing a link between India's north-eastern states and ASEAN.
• India is a member of the ASEAN-led Regional Comprehensive Economic Partnership (RCEP), which aims to build the world's largest free trade area with more than a third of global GDP and trade.
• Bilateral trade between ASEAN and India has surpassed US$ 80 billion for the first time.
• In the East, Singapore has become India's investment and commerce powerhouse.

Security Significance

• ASEAN is a key component of the Indo-Pacific region's security architecture.
• Maritime cooperation has received a lot of attention in terms of connection, safety, and security.
• India and ASEAN can work together to address terrorism financing, cyber security risks, and tax evasion, among other things.
• India requires ASEAN assistance in establishing a regional security architecture based on rules.

Geo-Strategic Significance

• A partnership with ASEAN states could help India offset Beijing's rising influence.
• Next to the EU, ASEAN is regarded as the most successful regional organisation.
• ASEAN and India are collaborating on the Kaladan MultiModal Transit Transport Project to improve water connectivity.
• Maritime cooperation between ASEAN and India is a critical priority area for the Indo-Pacific region's growth and development.

The transition from Look East Policy to Act East Policy

• The fall of the Soviet Union left India isolated on the international stage. The Gulf crisis, the rise in oil prices, and the failure of the Rupee-Rubal deal left India alone on the international stage. India needed new partners to survive.
• Payments crisis– Due to the Balance of Payments crisis and IMF loan terms, India opened its market to the globe by lowering tariffs. Hence a ready market for commodities.
• Look East Policy’s II phase three guiding principles were:
• Enhanced economic engagements
• Creating institutional links between India and ASEAN. In 2010, India signed a commodities FTA with ASEAN
• Security and Strategic Component
• Many ASEAN countries are concerned about China's rise. China's rise has been accompanied by an increase in its assertiveness in its own backyard, as witnessed in its frequent claims in the South and East China Seas.
• These countries see India as a prospective partner in maintaining regional power balance and peace. India sees ASEAN as a vital part of its vision of a stable, secure, and affluent Asia.
• Domestic dimension– North East to East.
• Trade and connection with Southeast Asian countries via the North East have been a priority. The India-Myanmar-Thailand Trilateral Highway is one example along with these:
• Kaladan Multimodal Transport
• Mekong Ganga Corridor
• The BCIMM Corridor.
• IMT Highway

Forums led by ASEAN

• ASEAN Regional Forum (ARF): The twenty-seven-member multinational body, which was founded in 1993, was created to enhance cooperation on political and security concerns in order to contribute to regional confidence-building and preventive diplomacy.
• ASEAN Plus Three (ASEAN+3) The consultative group, which was established in 1997, brings together the 10 nations of ASEAN, as well as China, Japan, and South Korea.
• The East Asia Summit (EAS) is a prominent platform for strategic communication in the area.
• It is made up of 18 members, including the ten ASEAN countries, Australia, China, India, Japan, New Zealand, South Korea, the United States, and Russia.
• Terrorism and violent extremism, the South China Sea, the Korean Peninsula, the situation in Rakhine, cyber security, women's economic empowerment, regional economic integration, and other topics were discussed at the 2018 meeting in Manila.
• They also get together for the ASEAN Defense Ministers Meeting (ADMM) Plus.

Challenges

• Chinese aggression: China's territorial claims in the oil- and the gas-rich South China Sea, as well as the construction of artificial islands, could pose a danger to regional freedom of navigation.
  • As a result of the South China Sea dispute, many ASEAN countries have aligned with China.
• Terrorism: The Islamic State is posing a growing threat in Southeast Asia.
• Refugees: The Rohingya refugee crisis has been substantially contained by ASEAN.
• Cross border crime: ASEAN was unable to contain cross-border organised crime such as drug trafficking between Myanmar, Thailand, and Laos, forming the Golden Triangle.
• Trade and Investment Inequity: Although commerce between the two regions has increased, it is biassed against India. The ASEAN Free Trade Agreement (FTA) has resulted in a flood of inexpensive imported products into India.
  • Aside from the trade imbalance, India's indigenous producers are hurting. For example, cheaper ASEAN palm oil hurts local Kerala growers. India too lags behind in investment.
  • India's share of net inflows into ASEAN was just 0.3% in 2015. Also, compared to the US, EU, and Japan, India's FDI into ASEAN countries is only 22% of its overall outbound FDI.
• China's rising power: Contrary to the concerns of India, China is aiming to expand its presence in the region through the One Belt One Road plan. For example, high-speed rail links have been built between Laos, Thailand, and southern China.
• Connectivity: India-ASEAN ties need better transport connectivity. But both sides fall short here. No railways, poor road infrastructure. The completion of infrastructure projects such as the India-Myanmar-Thailand trilateral expressway, the Kaladan Multimodal Transit and Transport Project, and the Moreh-Mandalay Bus Services has slowed economic cooperation.
• Moreover, North East India communication has been impeded. Because Myanmar shares a long border with NE states and can act as a bridge between India and Southeast Asian markets, stalled projects must be expedited.

Highlights of the 18th ASEAN-India summit

• The importance of ASEAN in India's Act East Policy and the wider Indo-Pacific Vision was emphasised by Indian Prime Minister Narendra Modi.
• The importance of ASEAN in India's Act East Policy and the wider Indo-Pacific Vision was emphasised by Indian Prime Minister Narendra Modi.
• Adoption of the Joint Statement between India and ASEAN on collaboration for regional peace, stability, and development.
• Synergies between the ASEAN Outlook for the Indo-Pacific (AOIP) and India's Indo-Pacific Oceans Initiative in the Indo-Pacific vision (IPOI).
• Improving physical, digital, and people-to-people connectivity between India and ASEAN.
• The Prime Minister expressed India's support for the establishment of the ASEAN Cultural Heritage List to further strengthen India-ASEAN cultural ties.
• India emphasised the necessity of supply chain diversification and resilience for post-COVID economic recovery, as well as the need to revise the India-ASEAN FTA in this respect.

ASEAN Community

• The ASEAN Leaders agreed on a shared vision of ASEAN as a concert of Southeast Asian nations, outward-looking, living in peace, stability, and prosperity, bonded together in partnership in dynamic development, and in a community of caring societies in the ASEAN Vision 2020, which was adopted on the 30th Anniversary of ASEAN.
• The ASEAN Leaders decided to form an ASEAN Community at the 9th ASEAN Summit in 2003.
• The ASEAN Political-Security Community, ASEAN Economic Community, and ASEAN Socio-Cultural Community are the three pillars that make up the ASEAN Community. Each pillar has its own Blueprint, which, when combined with the IAI Strategic Framework and IAI Work Plan Phase II (2009-2015), comprise the Roadmap for an ASEAN Community 2009-2015.

Conclusion

Despite its variety, ASEAN's strength is its strong sense of community. The ASEAN Charter, which was adopted in 2007, strengthens the sense of belonging. ASEAN's neutrality in its external ties has aided the organization's ability to "maintain its importance in the region." Next to the EU, ASEAN is regarded as the most successful regional organisation. The importance of Asia and ASEAN in global politics increases ASEAN's opportunities. ASEAN plays a critical role in maintaining regional peace and security.

FAQs

Question. What is the ASEAN-India Summit?

Question. When was the first ASEAN-India Summit held?

Question. What are the key areas of cooperation discussed in the ASEAN-India Summit?

Question. How does the ASEAN-India Summit benefit both parties?

Question. How does the ASEAN-India Summit contribute to regional stability?

MCQs

1. When was the first ASEAN-India Summit held?

A) 1995

B) 2000

C) 2002

D) 2005

2. What is the main focus of the ASEAN-India Summit?

A) Military alliances

B) Trade and investment

C) Cultural exchange only

D) Climate change negotiations

3. Which of the following is a key area of cooperation discussed in the ASEAN-India Summit?

A) Space exploration

B) Maritime security

C) Political regime changes

D) Nuclear disarmament

4. Which ASEAN country is India’s largest trading partner?

A) Thailand

B) Indonesia

C) Singapore

D) Malaysia

5. How does the ASEAN-India Summit help in strengthening people-to-people ties?

A) By increasing military alliances

B) By encouraging cultural exchanges, tourism, and educational partnerships

C) By facilitating joint defense operations

D) By reducing political barriers

GS Mains Questions and Model Answers

Q1: Discuss the importance of the ASEAN-India Summit in strengthening bilateral relations.

Answer: The ASEAN-India Summit plays a crucial role in strengthening bilateral relations between India and ASEAN countries by providing a platform for high-level dialogue on key issues such as trade, security, and sustainable development. The summit has enhanced cooperation in multiple sectors, including economic partnerships, counter-terrorism, connectivity, and cultural exchange. By fostering greater collaboration in trade and investment, it has led to increased economic ties between India and ASEAN countries, contributing to regional prosperity. Furthermore, the summit helps address common security concerns, such as maritime security, and promotes peace and stability in the Indo-Pacific region. The annual meetings also help to further India’s "Act East" policy, strengthening its ties with the Southeast Asian region.

Q2: How does the ASEAN-India Summit contribute to regional stability and security in the Indo-Pacific region?

Answer: The ASEAN-India Summit contributes significantly to regional stability and security by fostering dialogue and cooperation on key issues affecting the Indo-Pacific region. This includes maritime security, counter-terrorism efforts, and the peaceful resolution of disputes in the South China Sea. Through the summit, both ASEAN and India work together to strengthen multilateral institutions and frameworks that promote peace, security, and cooperation in the region. The partnership helps address the challenges posed by non-traditional security threats, such as climate change and natural disasters, and ensures a coordinated response to regional crises. By working collaboratively on these issues, the ASEAN-India Summit strengthens the foundations for long-term peace and stability in the region.

Q3: Analyze the impact of the ASEAN-India Summit on economic cooperation and trade between India and ASEAN countries.

Answer: The ASEAN-India Summit has significantly boosted economic cooperation and trade between India and ASEAN countries. The summit has led to the creation of frameworks and agreements to enhance trade relations, such as the ASEAN-India Free Trade Area (AIFTA), which aims to reduce trade barriers and promote investment flows. India has benefitted from access to the dynamic ASEAN market, while ASEAN countries have gained a crucial trading partner in India, one of the world’s fastest-growing economies. Additionally, the summit has focused on improving connectivity between India and ASEAN through infrastructure projects, transport corridors, and digital integration. The resulting trade and economic collaboration has led to increased investment opportunities, benefiting both India and ASEAN countries in sectors such as manufacturing, services, and technology.

Previous Year Questions on ASEAN-India Summit

1. UPSC CSE 2020

Question: "Explain the significance of the ASEAN-India Summit for India’s foreign policy in the Indo-Pacific region."

Answer: The ASEAN-India Summit plays a key role in shaping India’s foreign policy in the Indo-Pacific region, aligning with India’s "Act East" policy. It fosters deeper economic, political, and cultural ties with Southeast Asia, enhancing India’s strategic influence in the region. The summit also strengthens India’s role in regional security by addressing shared concerns such as maritime security, counter-terrorism, and sustainable development. The growing cooperation between India and ASEAN helps counter regional instability and enhances India's position in the broader Indo-Pacific region.

2. UPSC CSE 2019

Question: "How does the ASEAN-India Summit support sustainable development goals in the region?"

Answer: The ASEAN-India Summit supports sustainable development goals (SDGs) by promoting cooperation in areas such as climate change, renewable energy, disaster management, and sustainable infrastructure development. India and ASEAN countries have worked together on projects aimed at achieving SDG targets, particularly in the context of poverty reduction, environmental protection, and inclusive growth. Through joint initiatives and capacity-building programs, the summit fosters collaboration that contributes to sustainable economic and social development across the ASEAN-India region.