Why in News?
From August 4–8, 2025, Philippines President Ferdinand Marcos Jr. will visit India, deepening maritime ties under India’s Act East Policy. The visit follows ASEAN-India and East Asia Summits in 2024 and recent India-Philippines naval cooperation in the West Philippine Sea.
Description:
Launch & Background:
- Launched: 2014 by PM Narendra Modi
- Predecessor: Upgraded from Look East Policy (1991, PM Narasimha Rao)
- Focus: From passive “Look” to active “Act” – strategic engagement in Indo-Pacific
Key Objectives:
- Strengthen ties with ASEAN and Indo-Pacific nations
- Enhance economic, strategic, and cultural engagement
- Promote regional stability, maritime security, and people-to-people ties
- Improve connectivity between India’s Northeast and Southeast Asia
4 C’s of Engagement:
- Culture – Shared heritage, Buddhism diplomacy
- Commerce – Trade, investment, economic integration
- Connectivity – Road, rail, sea, digital links
- Capacity Building – ITEC, skilling, technology transfer
Three Pillars:
- Economic: Trade, FDI, supply chain integration
- Socio-cultural: People-to-people contact, cultural diplomacy
- Political-security: Strategic partnerships, defense cooperation
Key Partner Institutions:
- ASEAN
- East Asia Summit (EAS)
- ASEAN Regional Forum (ARF)
- ADMM+ (ASEAN Defence Ministers’ Meeting Plus)
- BIMSTEC, Mekong-Ganga Cooperation
Major Connectivity Projects:
- India–Myanmar–Thailand Trilateral Highway
- Kaladan Multi-Modal Transit Transport Project
- Agartala–Akhaura Rail Link
- Mekong–India Economic Corridor
- India-ASEAN Digital Public Infrastructure (DPI)
Strategic & Defense Ties:
- Naval drills with Japan, Vietnam, Philippines
- Indo-Pacific Oceans Initiative (IPOI)
- Joint patrols, defense MoUs
- Focus on South China Sea freedom of navigation
Look East vs Act East – Key Differences:
| Feature | Look East Policy (1991) | Act East Policy (2014) |
| Initiated by | PM Narasimha Rao | PM Narendra Modi |
| Focus | Economic, diplomatic ties | Strategic, economic, cultural |
| Region | Southeast Asia | Indo-Pacific, Northeast India |
| Security Focus | Limited | Strong emphasis |
| Connectivity Projects | Few | Major infrastructure push |
| 21st ASEAN-India Summit (2024): Held on: 10 October 2024 | Venue: Vientiane, Lao PDR Context: Marked 10 years of Act East Policy PM Modi’s 11th ASEAN Summit appearance: ASEAN: ● Founded: 1967 (Bangkok Declaration) ● Members: 10 (Brunei, Cambodia, Indonesia, Laos, Malaysia, Myanmar, Philippines, Singapore, Thailand, Vietnam) ● Observer: Timor-Leste (since 2022) ● Secretariat: Jakarta, Indonesia ● Motto: One Vision, One Identity, One Community India–ASEAN Relations: ● FTA in Goods: 2010 | FTA in Services: 2014 ● 2022: Comprehensive Strategic Partnership ● Trade (2023-24): ○ Total: $122.67 billion ○ Exports: $41.21B | Imports: $79.67B (Trade Deficit) Key Announcements by PM Modi: ● Support for ASEAN Centrality ● Declared 2025: ASEAN–India Year of Tourism ● 10-Point Action Plan, incl.: ○ $5M Tourism Grant ○ Start-up & Youth Festivals ○ Women Scientists Conclave ○ Scholarships at Nalanda & Agri Universities ○ AITIGA Review by 2025 ○ Cyber Policy Dialogue & Green Hydrogen Workshop ○ Disaster Resilience Fund: $5M ○ “Plant a Tree for Mother” campaign Digital & Tech Cooperation: ● Support to ASEAN Digital Masterplan 2025 ● Cross-border FinTech & payments ● Cyber Policy Dialogue launch ● AI Cooperation for upskilling & trustworthy systems |
| 19th East Asia Summit (2024): Date: 11 October 2024 | Venue: Vientiane, Lao PDR Launched: 2005 | Members: 18 ● 10 ASEAN Members ● +8 Dialogue Partners: India, China, Japan, South Korea, Australia, New Zealand, USA, Russia ● Requirement: Sign ASEAN’s Treaty of Amity and Cooperation India & EAS: ● Member since inception (2005) ● Nalanda University revival approved at 4th EAS (2009) 6 Priority Areas: 1. Environment & Energy 2. Education 3. Finance 4. Global Health & Pandemics 5. Disaster Management 6. ASEAN Connectivity PM Modi’s Key Themes (2024): ● Peace in Eurasia & West Asia: Dialogue over war ● UNCLOS-backed Indo-Pacific: Rules-based maritime order ● Development > Expansionism (indirect ref. to China) ● Global Terrorism: Including cyber, space, maritime threats ● Myanmar: Advocated ASEAN-led peace, engagement > isolation ● Humanitarian Assistance: Operation Sadbhav (e.g., Typhoon Yagi) ● QUAD and Indo-Pacific Vision: Reaffirmed commitment |
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