ISAS Briefs

Indian Prime Minister Manmohan Singh’s recent visit to Japan, Malaysia and Vietnam saw not only comprehensive trade pacts being inked but also forging of a more intimate security role for India in the region, giving a fillip to India’s ‘Look East’ Policy. The Prime Minister’s visit was at a time when China’s relationship with Japan is strained. The warming of Indo-Japanese ties has been attributed to the recent frosting in Sino-Japanese relations. There is a growing perception that India with its economic and military prowess can be a counterweight to an assertive China. This paper analyses India’s strategy in engaging with the region more closely, which is in its interests, while refraining from striking an adverse posture against China.