Look East Policy

Look East Policy
Name	Look East Policy
Introduced	1991
Implemented by	P. V. Narasimha Rao government
Primary targets	Japan; South Korea; ASEAN nations
Related policies	Economic liberalisation in India; Act East Policy
Key documents	India–Japan Joint Statement (1998); ASEA–India Dialogue

Look East Policy

The Look East Policy was a strategic reorientation initiated in 1991 to deepen ties between India and East Asian as well as Southeast Asian countries. It emerged amid the aftermath of the Cold War and the Indian economic liberalisation in India reforms, seeking enhanced engagement with partners such as Japan, South Korea, and the member states of ASEAN. The initiative combined diplomatic outreach, trade and investment promotion, and security cooperation to integrate India into regional architectures shaped by actors like China and United States.

Background and Origins

The policy was announced by the P. V. Narasimha Rao administration against a backdrop of fiscal crisis and shifting global geopolitics following the dissolution of the Soviet Union. Prior alignments with the Soviet Union and participation in forums such as the Non-Aligned Movement were reassessed as India pursued economic liberalisation in India under Finance Minister Manmohan Singh. Rapid growth in output across Japan, South Korea, and the ASEAN bloc, and the rise of China as a regional power prompted New Delhi to build commercial and strategic linkages exemplified by dialogues with Singapore and bilateral visits to Tokyo and Seoul.

Objectives and Principles

Key objectives included attracting foreign direct investment from markets like Japan and South Korea, expanding access to export markets in Malaysia and Thailand, and participating in regional institutions such as the East Asia Summit. Principles emphasized mutually beneficial partnerships with respect for sovereignty and non-interference, drawing on precedents in agreements like the Indo-Japanese Agreement on Cooperation. The policy sought to diversify strategic options away from traditional partners including the Soviet Union and to secure supply chains involving firms such as Mitsubishi and Samsung.

Diplomatic and Economic Initiatives

Diplomatic efforts included elevating ties to strategic partnerships with Japan and comprehensive partnerships with Singapore and Thailand, and upgrading dialogues with Indonesia, Malaysia, and Philippines. Economic initiatives encompassed trade liberalization measures negotiated within ASEAN–India Free Trade Area frameworks, bilateral investment treaties with Japan and South Korea, and participation in forums such as the Asia-Pacific Economic Cooperation and the World Trade Organization. Infrastructure projects like the Kolkata–Dhaka–Kolkata connectivity proposals, the Kaladan Multi-Modal Transit Transport Project with Myanmar, and investments in ports linked to Chennai and Visakhapatnam facilitated commercial corridors. Technology and corporate engagement involved collaborations with Tata Group, Mahindra & Mahindra, Mitsubishi Heavy Industries, and Hyundai.

Defense and Security Cooperation

Security cooperation expanded through bilateral exercises and logistics arrangements with navies of Japan Maritime Self-Defense Force and Republic of Korea Navy, and trilateral engagements involving United States Pacific Command frameworks. India negotiated logistics support pacts resembling the Logistics Exchange Memorandum of Agreement model and participated in multilateral naval exercises with Australia and Singapore. Defense procurement and joint development projects engaged firms such as HAL and Mitsubishi Heavy Industries; training exchanges occurred with institutions like the Indian Navy's training establishments and foreign academies in Tokyo and Seoul. Cooperation addressed non-traditional threats in collaboration with agencies like Interpol and regional centers addressing piracy in the Strait of Malacca.

Regional and Multilateral Engagement

The Look East orientation translated into active Indian roles in multilateral bodies including the ASEAN Regional Forum, the East Asia Summit, and regular participation in ASEAN–India Summit meetings. New Delhi pursued connectivity projects under the Master Plan on ASEAN Connectivity and engaged in sectoral cooperation with agencies such as the Asian Development Bank and UNESCAP. Partnerships with Myanmar and Bangladesh aimed to integrate continental and maritime linkages; initiatives with Bhutan and Nepal complemented the broader South and Southeast Asian diplomacy. The policy also intersected with broader Indo-Pacific strategies advocated by Australia and United States.

Impact and Criticisms

Impact: The policy contributed to substantial growth in trade with Japan, South Korea, and ASEAN members, rising foreign direct investment inflows from Asian corporations, and enhanced strategic dialogue evidenced by joint statements and defense exchanges. Projects such as the Chabahar Port collaboration and expanded shipping links demonstrated practical outcomes. Critics: Observers in publications like analyses by scholars at Indian Council of World Affairs and Observer Research Foundation argued that implementation lagged, citing bureaucratic hurdles, slow infrastructure delivery, and uneven integration with the Act East Policy rebranding under later administrations. Some analysts contended that strategic hedging vis-à-vis China remained constrained by legacy dependencies on suppliers such as Russia and by limits in power projection compared to regional navies. Human rights concerns and environmental critiques also accompanied projects in Myanmar and coastal development initiatives.

Category:Foreign policy of India