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Where is India, we need it, Asean says

arp2041

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As Prime Minister Manmohan Singh arrives in Phnom Penh on Sunday, he is likely to hear a common refrain in this part of the world: India is sorely needed here, but India is too slow.

It's a critical time for Asean countries -- they are struggling to remain cohesive and stay relevant. They are caught in a bruising territorial dispute with the big Heavy in the region, China. And now the even bigger US is sailing into their waters and telling them how to stand up to China, with its help. US defense secretary Leon Panetta told everyone he who would listen on Friday, "we are deepening our military engagement with our allies and partners in this region in order to ensure that we are able to promote security and prosperity in this region for many years to come."

For many, India is a natural balancer in this region. India struck roots here hundreds of years ago, and there are signs all around. But in the current strategic debate roiling the region, India is a peripheral presence. India's only statement so far has been to endorse the importance of ensuring freedom of navigation and mineral resources in the troubled wats of the South China Sea. In a joint statement with the Chinese, India also emphasized its stakes in the Asia-Pacific. That lone position by the MEA, India believes may have absolved it of all other responsibility. With $80 billion in bilateral trade, India needs a louder ASEAN policy.

"Asean needs India now, not 10 years later," says Kavi Chongkittavorn, a regional expert, of the Jakarta-based ERIA group. "we need strategic support from India about the way forward. How do we deal with the advent of big powers and still retain our relevance?" there is much talk about "Asean-led" and the "centrality" of Asean, but everyone knows its in danger of being swamped.

China watchers here say Beijing is likely to get more tough in the next six months, as the leadership transition will only be completed by next March. This is the time, they say, India needs to ramp up its engagement and support in this region. But there is no Indian voice that is heard here. Seoung Rathavy, secretary of state of the Cambodian foreign ministry, said 200 senior officials have gathered here to discuss the agenda of the key summits. She told journalists, "implementation of a declaration of conduct on the South China Sea is crucial for political and social stability of Asean."

The South China Sea disputes would be discussed at every meeting in the several summits that will be held here. The Chinese are unlikely to agree to the declaration of conduct on the issue, regarding it as their sovereign territory. Indonesian experts, familiar with their country's position, said very little forward movement would be expected.

For many, the US "pivot" is a mixed blessing. While many countries here are happy to get external support as they deal with the rise of China, there remains some uncertainty about whether the US would actually come to their help. For many, Vietnam and Philippines have been "burnt". In 2011, the US stopped short of fully backing up these countries during their respective stand-offs with China on the South China Sea.

Cambodia needs the kind of defence interest from India like Vietnam has. India should offer joint exercises with everyone in this region. Most of them have old naval fleets, and even with modest means, India can help upgrade them. In fact, India needs to work harder with naal cooperation with all the ASEAN countries. In 2011, Indian naval vessels paid port calls to many in the region before ending up in Shanghai. That should become a run-of-the-mill affair. A look at the map will show how India, with its still superior navy, can successfully block off the Malacca Straits for the Chinese if a conflict breaks out in the Himalayas. For India to carry out a successful blockade, it needs all the littoral countries on its side.

India, many Asean analysts here believe, should openly reiterate its position on an issue which will deeply affect India's own future. There is a sense that India is piggybacking on the US. Even Cambodia, which is believed to be close to China, is crying out for an alternative partner. The India linkages are for all to see, from the Ganesha idols to the Mekong river.

"Connectivity" is India's mantra but it's China that's putting stakes on the ground. China is doing more on the Mekong river and China is building the Kunming-Singapore links, while India's trilateral highway to Thailand through Myanmar will take many more years to realise. The wasted opportunities are stacking up.

Where is India, we need it, Asean says - The Times of India
 
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This is one of the neglected.
Perhaps its an opportunity fr India to make a permanant mark on global map thru ASEAN.

India must look forward for a longterm vision in Asia as a Real Powerr and there can be no better platform than ASEAN.

Time has come to get in the shoes of global players not just by words,but actions.
 
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This is one of the neglected.
Perhaps its an opportunity fr India to make a permanant mark on global map thru ASEAN.

India must look forward for a longterm vision in Asia as a Real Powerr and there can be no better platform than ASEAN.

Time has come to get in the shoes of global players not just by words,but actions.

Not just ASEAN, but nearly every country in this world demands a more outward looking India, we are now not the beggar country of 1960s & 70s, we are many times powerful now & the stature is only gonna go up. Already African Union is demanding a more credible Indian presence in Africa, since India's soft power there has done wonders which even many nations hard power could not achieve. ASEAN is looking towards India as a credible balancing power in Asia. Even the highly developed west is looking towards India for there own growth story.

It's looks like that foreign countries know the potential of India more than India itself, it's time we should come out of our Inward looking approach & Look Towards World that is preparing for a true Asian Century.
 
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Asean will have to step up for itself neither US nor India is gonna do much here as half of Asean countries r already in China's backyard...:agree:

Unless Asean is ready to provide India membership or atleast FTA i don't see India playing much role there...:undecided:

China is an equally important country our trade with China alone equals that of our trade with whole Asean although Asean trade is much more balanced i guess...

But ofcourse we'll provide as much support as we can to our friends like Vietnam...:)
 
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Asean will have to step up for itself neither US nor India is gonna do much here as half of Asean countries r already in China's backyard...:agree:

Unless Asean is ready to provide India membership or atleast FTA i don't see India playing much role there...:undecided:

China is an equally important country our trade with China alone equals that of our trade with whole Asean although Asean trade is much more balanced i guess...

But ofcourse we'll provide as much support as we can to our friends like Vietnam...:)

Just for ur knowledge, when ASEAN was formed, India was invited to become a member, but our great leadership rejected that offer just as the rejected the UNSC permanent seat, we could have become the most powerful voice of the entire SA & ASEAN region if we had accepted the offer.
 
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Just for ur knowledge, when ASEAN was formed, India was invited to become a member, but our great leadership rejected that offer just as the rejected the UNSC permanent seat, we could have become the most powerful voice of the entire SA & ASEAN region if we had accepted the offer.

Thanx i didn't knew that can u provide me some source that India Rejected UNSC seat back then...:undecided:
if true than as usual Nehru n the Congress screwed us once again...:hitwall:

Sometimes i wish that Nehru shouldn't have born n Sardar Patel should have headed the Congress back then...:angel:

Anyways whats done is done my post was in respect of present circumstances where some ASEAN members aren't allowing us Membership nor FTA n on top of that wants our support against China....:hang3:
 
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Thanx i didn't knew that can u provide me some source that India Rejected UNSC seat back then...:undecided:
if true than as usual Nehru n the Congress screwed us once again...:hitwall:

Sometimes i wish that Nehru shouldn't have born n Sardar Patel should have headed the Congress back then...:angel:

Anyways whats done is done my post was in respect of present circumstances where some ASEAN members aren't allowing us Membership nor FTA n on top of that wants our support against China....:hang3:

will reply u in sometime, have to go now, actually i was also shocked to read that.
 
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will reply u in sometime, have to go now, actually i was also shocked to read that.

I got it, its basically a blog of some media person(in one of the 2 article posted by Ajtr she mentions Talmizur Rahman but i m still looking for the original article n the other article said the writer is a Delhi-based political commentator) n not some famous leader like NM or LK, i don't think BJP would have been sitting ducks had this been true as there is no media coverage of this news in India besides anything official isn't available so the credibility n authenticity of this news is very much disputed.....

Moreover Ajtr had already posted that news on an Indian Forum, wonder whats stopping her to post it here n why is she even allowed on an Indian forum is beyond my comprehension....:hang3:

Anyways can u provide me a source for ur claim regarding Asean membership bcoz neither i m able to find it nor i see any usefulness of such a decision...:undecided:
 
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Never heard of india being offered a UNSC permanent seat and we rejected it....
 
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Thanx i didn't knew that can u provide me some source that India Rejected UNSC seat back then...:undecided:
if true than as usual Nehru n the Congress screwed us once again...:hitwall:

Sometimes i wish that Nehru shouldn't have born n Sardar Patel should have headed the Congress back then...:angel:

Anyways whats done is done my post was in respect of present circumstances where some ASEAN members aren't allowing us Membership nor FTA n on top of that wants our support against China....:hang3:


Never heard of india being offered a UNSC permanent seat and we rejected it....

I got it, its basically a blog of some media person(in one of the 2 article posted by Ajtr she mentions Talmizur Rahman *but i m still looking for the original article n the other article said the writer is a Delhi-based political commentator) n not some famous leader like NM or LK, i don't think BJP would have been sitting ducks had this been true as there is no media coverage of this news in India besides anything official isn't available so the credibility n authenticity of this news is very much disputed.....




Moreover Ajtr had already posted that news on an Indian Forum, wonder whats stopping her to post it here n why is she even allowed on an Indian forum is beyond my comprehension....:hang3:




Anyways can u provide me a source for ur claim regarding Asean membership bcoz neither i m able to find it nor i see any usefulness of such a decision...:undecided:


Ok so here is it:

Case 1: India rejected UNSC permanent seat

India was offered a permanent seat on the council 55 years ago, in 1955. But that offer, made by the United States and the Soviet Union, was declined by India's first prime minister, Jawaharlal Nehru. Nehru said the seat should be given to China instead.

Obama supports adding India as a permanent member of U.N. Security Council

Case 2: India rejected ASEAN membership

When discussions were initiated in the early 1960s for the formation of ASEAN, India was considered a natural potential founder member and sounded out, but India chose other policy paths.

Pg. 361

Indian Foreign Policy: Challenges and Opportunities - Atish Sinha, Atish Singh And Madhup Mohit - Google Books
 
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India needs to get on this- these things take time and must be started as early as possible. They are right-ten years donw the road may be too late.
 
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They are caught in a bruising territorial dispute with the big Heavy in the region, China. And now the even bigger US is sailing into their waters and telling them how to stand up to China, with its help. (quote from the article)


This is aptly put. Many nations in ASEAN do feel this way but are afraid to voice their opinions publicly for fear of antagonizing both parties. Perhaps with India full participation the two said parties will try to seek common group and be more diplomatic in dealing with smaller nations. Unlike Russia or any other EU country, India has a trustworthy reputation among the ASEAN nations here.
 
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After reading all this, Nehru was the biggest JackA$$ in the Indian history is all i can come up with....:hang3:

Actually we have no right to cry out when the world is looking upto China as the next world power, it were we who have lost many opportunity that came knocking our doors:

1. We rejected UNSC seat.
2. We rejected ASEAN membership.
3. We rejected the Humbantota port project when SL came first to us for same.
4. We gave Coco islands to Myanmar (earlier they were part of A&N) & now China has a listening post there.
5. We lost out to China in per capita income even when we were above them in PCI till 1960s.
6. We lost the race to African resources to China since we were late starters even when culturally & historically Africa has more closer ties to India than China.
7. We gave away only possible land connection b/w China & Pakistan in form of P0K.
8. When China was celebrating it's victory in hosting successful Olympics we were finding out as to who were corrupts in CWG scam.
9. We constantly ignored our Navy & it was the wake up call of China entering IOR that we noted the importance of the third arm of our armed forces.
10. It needs a 26/11 for us to stronger our defences when China do the same without any terrorist attacks serving as a remainder.

So why shout & complain when China is building a string of pearls or when the world is looking towards China as the next superpower, we have to blame ourselves only if India is not seen at par with China.
 
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