Mains Practice Questions

Approach:

• Introduce the answer by briefing about significance of Indo-Pacific region for India with a current affair linkage
• Give arguments to Indo-Pacific as a Strategic Vision for India
• Delve into China’s Assertiveness as a Strategic Challenge
• Highlight Opportunities for India in Evolving Regional Alliances
• Give Measures to Strengthening India’s Indo-Pacific Strategy
• Conclude suitably.

Introduction:

The launch of the India-Middle East-Europe Economic Corridor (IMEC) at the G20 Summit in 2023 and India’s upcoming Chairmanship of the Indian Ocean Rim Association (2025–27) reflect India’s evolving approach to the Indo-Pacific as a strategic theatre, not just a geographic expanse.

Body:

Indo-Pacific as a Strategic Vision for India:

• Maritime Security & Strategic Autonomy: Over 95% of India’s trade by volume and energy imports traverse the Indo-Pacific, especially through chokepoints like the Strait of Hormuz and Malacca.
  • India’s SAGAR (Security and Growth for All in the Region) doctrine and mission-based deployments signal its maritime-first approach in countering China's growing naval presence.
• Economic Growth and Trade Diversification: The Indo-Pacific underpins India’s efforts to de-risk from overdependence on China, by joining the Indo-Pacific Economic Framework (IPEF) and signing FTAs with Australia and UAE.
  • India is leveraging the China+1 strategy to integrate into global supply chains, particularly in semiconductors, pharmaceuticals, and clean tech.
• Connectivity and Infrastructure Diplomacy: The IMEC corridor and revitalisation of the Chabahar Port indicate India’s intent to shape trans-regional connectivity.
  • India’s launch of the Global Digital Public Infrastructure Repository (GDPIR) reflects its soft-power leadership through digital infrastructure.
• Blue Economy and Climate Resilience: India is leading ocean sustainability through IORA, Coalition for Disaster Resilient Infrastructure (CDRI), and Blue Economy initiatives, aiming to counter China's infrastructure-heavy BRI with climate-sensitive development..

China’s Assertiveness: A Strategic Challenge

• Maritime Militarisation: China’s expansion in South China Sea, development of dual-use ports in Djibouti, Gwadar, and Hambantota, and PLA Navy modernisation pose threats to SLOC security.
• Debt Diplomacy and Geo-economic Leverage: Through the Belt and Road Initiative (BRI), China has entrenched economic dependencies, which India counters through sustainable infrastructure diplomacy.
  • China also has a geo-economic upper hand due to deeper pockets giving it an edge, while India struggles with funding gaps, tech catch-up, and slower project execution.
• Digital and Normative Contestation: China is promoting closed, state-centric digital infrastructure, in contrast to India’s open digital public goods model through GDPIR and G20 diplomacy.

Evolving Regional Alliances: Opportunities for India

• Mini-laterals and Strategic Convergences: Quad (India-USA-Japan-Australia) focuses on maritime security, supply chains, and emerging tech.
  • India-France-Australia and India-Indonesia-Australia trilaterals foster issue-based coalitions in the Indian Ocean and Pacific theatres.
• Multilateral Economic Platforms: IPEF, though India opted out of the trade pillar, offers an avenue for supply chain resilience, clean economy, and fair standards.
  • India’s participation in BIMSTEC and IPOI reinforces its presence in regional groupings with economic and security convergence.

Strengthening India’s Indo-Pacific Strategy

• Expand Maritime Capacity and Forward Presence: Accelerate naval modernisation, mission-based deployments, and develop dual-use logistics agreements with Indo-Pacific nations.
  • Invest in deep-sea ports, MDA (Maritime Domain Awareness) systems, and coastal radar networks.
• Enhance Economic Integration: Deepen FTAs with ASEAN, Australia, UAE, and actively participate in supply chain, digital economy, and clean tech pillars of IPEF.
  • Expand trade facilitation infrastructure, customs efficiency, and ease of doing business.
  • If India aspires to be a major global player, it must become a $10 trillion economy in the next 10–15 years. This will require ramping up investments, improving project execution, and overcoming structural bottlenecks.
• Lead in Blue Economy and Climate Diplomacy: Use IORA chairmanship to mainstream blue economy, island sustainability, and climate financing under India-led platforms like ISA and CDRI.

Conclusion

India's Indo-Pacific vision must move from a patchwork of initiatives to a coherent, multi-dimensional strategy that blends security, economic integration, climate diplomacy, and civilizational leadership. “In the turbulent waters of the Indo-Pacific, nations that navigate with vision, values, and veracity will shape the tides of the future.”- India must rise as such a nation.