The Indo-Pacific 2.0 And The Churn In East Asian Geopolitics

The idea of the Indo-Pacific has evolved significantly since its early articulation by leaders such as Shinzo-Abe, who emphasised the confluence of the Indian and Pacific Oceans as a strategic continumm. Initially rooted in the maritime security and the rise of China, the Indo-Pacific framework has now entered a second phase – “Indo-Pacific 2.0” – characterised by deeper institutionalisation, economic diversification and issue-based coalitions. With Japan insisting that Tokyo faces a severe security environment, specifically in the light of a string of Japanese islands that stretch across the East China Sea, it becomes imperative for India to revisit and review its Indo-Pacific engagement given the shifting alliances in the international order. It would be helpful to deliberate on strategies focused on long-term strategic gains rather than short-term tactical advantages. In the above light, the Chintan Research Foundation (CRF) proposes to convene a high-level roundtable bringing together stakeholders form the diplomatic and the broader strategic community to deliberate on the geopolitical churn in the Indo-pacific.