India and Southeast Asia: Towards Security Convergence

Foreword

FOREWORD In the closing months of 2004, a few dozens of enthusiastic drivers piloted their ordinary roadworthy vehicles through the northeast of India, Myanmar, Thailand, Laos, Vietnam, Cambodia, Malaysia, Singapore and by ferry to the Indonesian island of Batam. They were participating in the first-ever ASEAN–India Car Rally. This fascinating event reaffirmed once again the land connectivity between India and Southeast Asia. It renewed public consciousness of the related geography of ASEAN and India. In ancient times, commercial interests, regal adventures, missionary zeal and intelligent curiosity prompted many journeys over the ocean to link the peoples of Southeast Asia and the South Asian subcontinent. Over time, the customs, religions and traditions of the richer civilization of the Indian states were enmeshed into the ways of life in mainland and archipelagic Southeast Asia. Rather than being a physical barrier, the seas surrounding ASEAN and India were the conduit of popular interactions and community development. Today, the sea routes remain just as important, though taken for granted because of the relatively convenient and inexpensive air travel. For the future, ASEAN and India will be further bundled together through fibre optics, the Internet and other technological advancement. The human resources from both sides are connected by cyber-works and the common desire to achieve peace, progress and prosperity. Their resilience, perpetual optimism and relentless attachment to hope will tie them in inseparable manner and motivate them to strive for a better tomorrow. The changes in the creation of value in the global economy will also mean greater interdependence between ASEAN and India. Therefore, geography, culture, technology and economics bind ASEAN and India. The challenge is to provide the security for realizing these common aspirations in an uncertain world. The political leaderships in 00 India&SEA Prelims 11/11/05, 8:16 AM 9 ASEAN and India have to exercise their dexterity and sagacity to deliver the desired results. In the years since India became a full dialogue partner of ASEAN, political leaders from both sides have shown their commitment and statesmanship in steering ASEAN–India Dialogue relations in a steady and strategic way. While politics tends to divide, interests are permanent. Mutual interests are not amorphous. An assertive political leadership has defined these mutual interests beyond transience. In an ever-changing world, where globalization makes one’s understanding of how things work increasingly nebulous, we need some constant. The bonds ASEAN and India share must be secured by the audacity and the talent of men and women of substance. Temporary turbulence and cloudy atmosphere should not mask the huge potential of co-operation and collaboration between ASEAN and India. The clarity of our destination is the sustenance of this long-standing relationship, which has been transformed into a viable partnership by the vision and industry of the leaderships from both sides. Sudhir Devare has conveyed the essence of the ASEAN–India partnership and how it has evolved over the years. His arguments on the centrality of security are succinct and bring across the need for balance and broad-mindedness to achieve peace, progress and prosperity in the region. His book has contributed to our better understanding of ASEAN– India ties and the challenges and options for a forward-looking partnership. Ong Keng Yong Secretary-General Association of Southeast Asian Nations Jakarta June 2005 x Foreword 00 India&SEA Prelims 11/11/05, 8:16 AM 10 ...