Since its independence from British Raj, India has been looking at the Asian region as an integrated whole and its central place in it. This assumption was based on three principles: 1) Geo-strategically central position of India, 2) Deep historical and cultural connections of India with all major regions Asia, and 3) the shared colonial experience of many Asian counties and India’s leading role in the liberation movement of Asia.

First, geo-strategically it was argued India is at the center of Asia where western and northern, and eastern and southeastern Asia meets. As a country placed in the center of Asia, India was assumed to connect all the regions together and play a central role in Asian affairs.

Second, as one of the oldest Asian civilizations India has played a very important role in the evolution of the Asian way of life. As such, its influence can still be felt all over Asia and was thought to give India a moral authority to be the leader of Asian countries.

Third, during the struggle for freedom from colonial rule India emerged as a leader in Asia. India’s freedom movement leaders such as Jawaharlal Nehru and Mahatma Gandhi inspired people all over Asia. It was thought that after gaining freedom newly independent countries should keep away from cold war rivalries and avoid joining any groups. As the largest country among the newly independent countries, India assumed the leadership of the non–aligned countries and stressed Asian solidarity. However the Cold War rivalry between the two great power blocks proved to be great obstacles in strengthening Asian integration.

The end of the Cold War provided India with an opportunity to promote Asian integration once again. India is looking at Asia as the core of its economic growth, commercial dynamism and principal source of its growing energy needs. India is now seeking intensive cooperation and interaction with Asian economies especially those of East Asia.

Convinced of the inability of SAARC to play any leading role in the Asian integration process, in early 1990’s India started looking beyond its immediate neighborhood and launched what is now called the “Look East” policy to strengthen its relations with East Asia. Since then this region has emerged as a “central focus” of India’s foreign and trade policy.

Under its “Look East” policy India aims to strengthen its relations with all East Asian countries. With this policy approach, India is forging closer institutional links with the Association of South East Asian Nations (ASEAN). It is also striving to strengthen its relations with other parts of East Asia such as Northeast Asia, Australia and New Zealand and Oceania

India’s desire to establish stronger relations with East Asian countries is based on the fact that the region is emerging as important for both economic and strategic interests. As an indication of India’s growing involvement, trade with China crossed $20 billion in 2006. India’s trade with ASEAN grew from $17 billion in 2004 to more than $25 billion in 2006. Trade relations with other regional countries including Korea and Japan are also booming.

However economic imperatives are not the only reasons India is seeking stronger relations with East Asia. The security and strategic considerations are also playing very important roles in policy orientation. The protection of sea-lanes of communication, terrorism, energy security, maritime security, environmental crisis and the changing balance of power paradigm are important factors in forming policy towards the region. With changing power dynamics in mind, it is trying to enlarge and intensify strategic cooperation with regional countries.

India is learning from its past mistakes. Having failed to become a member of two emerging regional economic groups, APEC and ASEM, India wants to make sure it does not miss out again. It is closely observing the fast changing region and preparing to take the first opportunity to join the newly emerging regional alliances. India’s ability to create its own web of regional trade, economic and security relationships depends on its closer observations and deeper engagement with the key players in the region. It must actively look at the engagement triangles and be eager to join new groupings with the potential to change the future of this region.

* Dr. Lakhvinder Singh is a senior resesrch fellow at Institute of Far Eastern Studies in seoul . He can be reached at parvkaur@kornet.net