From, "LOOK EAST" To "ACT EAST"

In 1991, 

 India's Prime Minister P.V. Narasimha Rao outlined the ‘Look East' policy, designed to address India's neglect of the Southeast Asian region during the Cold War period.

 No doubt, the developed countries have their bloc and alliance systems, but a country like India, currently on the threshold of becoming a big power, faces a dilemma on how to respond to the evolving geo-strategic order in the Indo-Pacific region. 

 Currently, the Indo-Pacific region is emerging as an epicenter of the power struggle between the US and China. But somewhere, US has been failed several times to counter the China in this region.

 So basically, A country like India which  faces a major security challenge with the rise of China. It may be the dispute over the McMahon Line between India and China is simmering, and the two countries’ militaries are positioned eyeball to eyeball or in the recent past, clashes at Doklam and Pangong Lake have demonstrated the potential for conflagration into a conflict.

 In addition, China’s expansive naval presence in the Indian Ocean and its enhanced aid and trade with other South Asian countries raise serious concern in New India as this region traditionally has been under India’s sphere of influence.

 India has initiated several policy measures to engage China by entering the institutional frameworks launched by Beijing, such as BRICS (Brazil, Russia, India, China and South Africa), the Shanghai Cooperation Organization (SCO), Russia-India-China (RIC), and the Asian Infrastructure Investment Bank (AIIB). 

 Currently, India is an active member of the China-led SCO and the US-led Quad simultaneously. In other words, India has its feet in two boats moving in opposite directions.

 India joined the United States and 11 other countries in launching a new loosely-linked economic grouping in Asia, primarily aimed to counter China’s economic dominance, but without drawing up a formal free trade agreement.

 In the economic realm, the Indo-Pacific is one of the world’s most dynamic regions. The region accounts for more than 60% of the global GDP, and almost 50% of the global merchandise trade passes through its waters.

 

 But now, India have different strategies, which is increasing its own presence. Now India will export BrahMos to the Phillipines, Vietnam(Drafted) and the strategic aspects of the BrahMos sale and India’s assistance to Southeast Asian countries should not be minimized. Given that these countries are facing a threat from China and have active ongoing disputes with the Asian giant, helping them increases the burden that China faces in the South China Sea. It is, of course, in India’s interest to make sure that China has enough problems in its backyard to divert its attention and reduce the pressure that it can bring to bear on India and the Indian Ocean. India’s ongoing territorial dispute with China makes this a lot more important, as do China’s growing naval capabilities.

 So, basically India is increasing it's presence in 4C Principles:-

C- Culturally

C- Connectivity

C- Commerce

C- Capacity Building 

And some of the examples of this principle are :-

- Bangladesh-China-India-Myanmar (BCIM) Corridor is part of this.

- India-ASEAN Free Trade Agreement (FTA) is central to India’s growing engagement with her eastern neighbours.

- India-Myanmar-Thailand Trilateral Highway.

- Kaladan Multi-Modal Transit Transport Project (KMMTTP):

- Mekong-India Economic Corridor (MIEC):

Involves the integration of four Mekong countries – Vietnam, Myanmar, Thailand, and Cambodia - along with India,

Source:-

Brahmos Deal