Asia Pacific and Indo-Pacific

Nature of Conflict
 Main reason of conflict is US policy to
Contain China for over a decade.

 Why Containment of China?

Thucydides’ Trap
Clash of Value System
Violation of Rules Based International Order
US Policy of Indo-Pacific
 Indo-Pacific Region

Term Coined in 2007 by an Indian Researcher for

marine biodiversity comprising of entire Indian and
Pacific Ocean
Geo-strategic use is recent phenomenon
Currently used by states like US, India, Europe,
Australia, Japan etc
States like China, Russia, Pakistan etc do not use
the term officially
Indo-Pacific Strategy of
President Biden
 Indo-Pacific Policy of US was officially
announced by US president Joe Biden Feb.
2022.

 Before him, President Trump & President

Obama announced their ‘Indo Pacific” &
‘Pivot Asia’ or ‘Rebalance to Asia’ Policy in
2017 and 2012 respectively.
 Biden’s Policy is the extended version of the
previous two
Indo-Pacific Strategy: An
extension of Pivot
Asia/Rebalance to Asia
 US president Obama announced Pivot-
Asia in 2012 based on article published
in 2011.
 Main thrust of this policy was develop
close strategic partnerships with Asia-
Pacific states
Pivot Asia (Rebalance to Asia)
 Military Component:
Military Security guarantee
Deployment of Military
Establishment of Military Bases
Sale of Modern Weapons
Deployment of modern weapons
Nuclear Shield
Missile Defense Systems
Increased maritime presence
US rebalance to Asia (Asia Pivot)
Economic Component:
Trans-Pacific Partnership
(TPP)
 A free Trade agreement signed in 2015
by 12 States

 Basic objective was to Isolate China in

the region
Indo-Pacific Policy (2017):
Extension in Pivot Asia:
Region under the policy was expanded
China declared officially as Rival and threat by
under this policy that must be contained.
China a threat to ‘Free and Open Indo pacific’
India: A central state in this policy
○ Quad (2007): A four state naval alliance involving
US, India, Japan and Australia.
○ LEMOA (2016): Logistics Exchange
Memorandum of Agreement. A bilateral military
logistic agreement between US and India.
○ COMCASA (2018): Communication
compatibility and Security Agreement. A
bilateral military intelligence agreement
between US and India. Under this: 1. US and
India shall share military intelligence, 2. US
allowed India to purchase Intelligence
gathering technologies from US
○ BECA 2020.
 ○ US sold India Unarmed and Armed Drones in
2017 and 2019 respectively. These drones
specialize in maritime operations.
○ US sold India ATAC Helicopters in 2019. They
are multirole: Rescue, Transportation and Anti-
ship and Anti-submarine Missile systems
○ US is negotiating to sell an Aircraft Carrier to
India
 US withdrew from TPP
 Name of US Pacific Command changed to Indo-
Pacific Command
○
Indo-pacific policy under Joe
Biden(2021-2022)
 Joe Biden became president in January
2021. Previously he served as VP under
President Obama
 J. Biden announced his policy in
February 2022
 Based on his policy
document/statements/decisions/agreem
ents, one can find two major changes
(Additions):
Biden’s Indo Pacific Strategy
Firstly, Globalized Alliance to contain China
especially involving Europeans e-g AUKUS,
NATO’s new strategic Concept etc.
Why prioritize Europe?
○ Historical alliance
○ Established political and security structures in
Europe (NATO)
○ Europe’s established Economic and Military
Power
○ Value System
○ China’s Growing influence in Europe
Biden’s Indo Pacific Strategy
 Secondly, re-incorporating Economic
Component to contain China.

 Build Back Better World renamed as Partnership

for Global Infrastructure and Investment
 Transformation of Quad to Geo-economic
alliance
 Asia Pacific Economic Forum (APEF)
 Partners in Blue Pacific
Chinese Island Disputes
China’s Response to Indo-
Pacific/Pivot Asia Policy
 China’s Interests in Indo-pacific are multi-
dimensional
First, One China Policy i-e reunification of
Taiwan even if it necessitates use of force
Claims on South China Sea Islands
Security of Maritime Silk Route
Promoting Economic and Security
cooperation in Asia Pacific Region
Diluting US hegemony in the region ( A new
Pacific Order)
Chinese Steps
 Economic:

Belt and Road Initiative (BRI)

Regional Comprehensive Economic
Partnership (RCEP)
Comprehensive and Progressive Trans
Pacific Partnership
Chinese Steps
 Security:
Rising Defense Budget:
○ Double Digit Growth
○ Second Largest Defense Budget
Expanding Naval Capabilities:
○ Modernization of PLA
○ Aircraft Carriers, Naval Warships, Nuclear
Submarines etc.
Increasing Naval outreach:
○ Djibouti, Cambodia, Solomon Islands etc
BRI
CPEC