Japan, South Korea, Taiwan and Australia pushing for stronger ties with India

[Vikrant]

We have China to thank for that

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...

The Australian government announced an ambitious "India Economic Strategy" in July. By 2035, Australia hopes to make India one of its top three export markets and the third biggest Asian destination for outward investment.

Late last year, South Korean President Moon Jae-in introduced a blueprint known as the "Southern Policy" that's focused on deepening ties with Southeast Asia. India — despite not being geographically part of Southeast Asia — will be Seoul's "key partner for cooperation" on that front, Moon said during a visit to New Delhi in July.

Japanese Prime Minister Shinzo Abe, who is due to visit New Delhi next week, has committed to making India an pillar of his Indo-Pacific blueprint, which promotes infrastructure investment and development in Asian and African emerging markets. It was first announced in 2016, well before U.S. Donald Trump started using the term.

The primary areas of cooperation between India and Japan are personal contacts, strengthened maritime ties and improved relations on defense and development, Japanese Ambassador to India Kenji Hiramatsu said at a briefing organized by Brookings India on Monday.

Taiwanese companies such as Foxconn, the world biggest contract manufacturer, have invested in India as part of President Tsai Ing-wen's New Southbound Policy, which was announced in 2016.

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America's closest Asian allies are all pushing for stronger ties — with India

 

[cnm]

We have China to thank for that

I reckon you have Trump to thank for that.

But challenges lie ahead.

India will need to ramp up its economic and security engagement with other countries in the region, since China is far ahead on both fronts, Pant warned.

On top of that, amid the South Asian country's's legacy of poorly negotiated trade deals and uneven economic liberalization, "the likelihood of India taking full advantage of these opportunities remains slim," Jaishankar said.​

NZ tried to negotiate a deal, it stalled for reasons unclear.

Negotiations for the agreement were launched in April 2010. The last formal round of negotiations (the 10th round) occurred in Delhi in February 2015.

The way forward for the bilateral negotiations subsequently has been unclear, although informal meetings of Lead Negotiators occurred throughout 2015 and 2016 to try and reach common ground on a path forward to conclusion.
https://www.mfat.govt.nz/​

 

[Vikrant]

We have China to thank for that

I reckon you have Trump to thank for that.

It is China's aggressive behavior which is making countries in the region wary of China. Even Trump's policy towards China mainly stems from the similar concern.

 

[cnm]

It is China's aggressive behavior which is making countries in the region wary of China. Even Trump's policy towards China mainly stems from the similar concern.

Trump's withdrawal from group agreements is driving the process, imo. If countries can't have a multilateral agreement that includes the US they'll have one without it, rather than be picked off in bilateral agreements with the US. After all, Trump withdrew the US from the TPP, which was Obama's attempt to constrain China.

 

[Vikrant]

It is China's aggressive behavior which is making countries in the region wary of China. Even Trump's policy towards China mainly stems from the similar concern.

Trump's withdrawal from group agreements is driving the process, imo. If countries can't have a multilateral agreement that includes the US they'll have one without it, rather than be picked off in bilateral agreements with the US. After all, Trump withdrew the US from the TPP, which was Obama's attempt to constrain China.

This is the first time we have a US administration which is standing up to China. Whether you like or dislike Trump, that is another story.