Inclusive maritime region must

Syllabus: General Studies Paper 2

Context:

Recently the Defence Secretary of India stated that a free, open and inclusive maritime region, where legitimate interests of all nations must be respected, is imperative to achieving high growth.

Background

• The Navy chiefs and heads of maritime agencies of Bangladesh, Comoros, Indonesia, Madagascar, Malaysia, the Maldives, Mauritius, Myanmar, the Seychelles, Singapore, Sri Lanka and Thailand are taking part in the conclave. 
• The theme for this year’s edition is “Maritime security and emerging non-traditional threats: a case for proactive role for IOR Navies”.
• India hoped that its maritime neighbours understood, and were sensitive to, India’s “legitimate maritime security concerns”.

Concerns raised in the conclave

• India cited that the “Unprecedented expansion” of conventional Navies could start a “new genre” of arms race.
• Region cannot ignore the non-traditional threats, and the impact of expansion at an unprecedented speed of conventional Navies in the Pacific. 
• Indian Ocean Region (IOR) nations are also witnessing enhancement of certain maritime presence and passages in the region, which may not always be innocent. The negative effects of such rapid expansion are felt far beyond the Pacific.
• China has not only increased its forays into the Indian Ocean Region but has also set up a base in Djibouti and is expanding its Navy at an unprecedented rate.
• The joint coastal radar surveillance systems in coordination with countries in the region and other cooperative efforts. 
• Disaster relief
  • While seas open the doors for economic progress, the region is one of the most disaster-prone areas causing enormous destruction. 
  • Listing out several instances where the Navy was the first responder in case of natural disasters. 
  • The Navy would continue to work for Humanitarian Assistance and Disaster Relief as first responder and net security provider.

India’s request to the nations of the region

• India emphasis on working with its partners on improving Exclusive Economic Zones (EEZ) surveillance.
• India has supplied equipment, vessels and aircraft to friends like Vietnam, Mozambique, the Maldives, Mauritius, Seychelles, Comoros, Bangladesh and Myanmar. 
• India is willing to work with partners in upgrading maritime hardware and software.
• The Navy chief laid emphasis on common efforts on information exchange for maritime domain awareness in the region and capacity building. 
  • India’s efforts are spearheaded by the Information Fusion Centre for IOR (IFC-IOR) located in Gurugram which also has several international liaison officers.
  • For a secure and prosperous future, it was important to adhere to international rules and laws and understand each other’s interests and sensitivities and act accordingly.
• India was in the process of making a Standard Operating Procedure for dealing with disasters in the Asia-Pacific which would be shared with all nations concerned. 
• India also hopes this will benefit our collective preparedness to deal with these calamities.

Significance of oceans for India

• With a long coastline and large island chains spread-eagled across the Indian Ocean, India has a natural seaward orientation, with key sea lanes of communication coursing through its surrounding seas. 
• Ancient maritime traditions:In enunciating five principles, he linked free and open trade to India’s civilisational ethos. 
  • India’s maritime trade with Mesopotamia 4,500 years ago. Lothal was a key maritime centre of the Indus Valley civilisation.
  • Kutch and Kathiawar as well as the Malabar coast enjoyed ancient links to Africa. 
  • Buddhism and Hinduism spread to South-east Asia by the maritime route. 
  • Even Islam took the maritime route from India to South-east Asia.
• Dispute settlement: The Prime Minister advocated peaceful settlement of maritime disputes on the basis of international law. 
  • India’s acceptance of the award by the Permanent Court of Arbitration in 2014 paved the way for India and Bangladesh to put aside their maritime dispute and forge even closer ties. This should be an example to others in the region. 
  • In 2016, China summarily rejected the Permanent Court of Arbitration ruling in favour of the Philippines.
• India’s role as ‘first responder’ in the Indian Ocean, whether in thwarting piracy or providing relief after the Boxing Day tsunami in 2004, is well- documented. 
  • The relevance of SAGAR (Security And Growth For All In The Region). 
  • The election of the Director General of Indian Coast Guard as the executive director of the Regional Cooperation Agreement on Combating Piracy and Armed Robbery against Ships in Asia (ReCAAP) Information Sharing Centre, Singapore. is an endorsement of India’s contributions. 
  • India now has white shipping agreements with several countries. 
  • The Indian Navy’s state-of-the-art Information Fusion Centre-Indian Ocean Region (IFC-IOR) based in Gurugram hosts officers from the United States, Japan, France, Australia and the United Kingdom. 
• Environmental concerns: Oceans have been overwhelmed by plastic waste which chokes all forms of marine life. This, in turn, poisons the entire food chain and imperils the lives of millions.
  • The Indian Coast Guard’s operational reach and capability has vastly improved in dealing with environmental hazards and piracy. 
• Development of connectivity and infrastructure: There are heightened concerns today over China’s Belt and Road Initiative (BRI). 
  • India stands for openness and transparency in the execution of projects, based on local priorities, with in-built fiscal viability and environmental sustainability. 
  • The U.S., Japan and Australia are also promoting better standards for global infrastructure through the Blue Dot Network.

The Hindu Link:

https://www.thehindu.com/todays-paper/tp-national/free-open-maritime-region-imperative/article37389215.ece

Question- A free, open and inclusive maritime region is both favourable and necessity for Indian Ocean littoral states. Comment .