BIMSTEC and emerging patterns of Asian regional and interregional cooperation

Dados Bibliográficos

ID6234050
AutoresFaizal Bin Yahya (National University of Singapore, autor correspondente), Faizal Yahya
Ano2005
Volume40
Fascículo3
Páginas391-410
Data de publicação2005-09-01
Peer ReviewedSim
Open AccessNão
TipoARTICLE
PeriódicoAustralian Journal of Political Science (JOURNAL)
Identificadores do periódicoISSN: 1036-1146 • E-ISSN: 1363-030X
EditoraInforma UK Limited (PUBLISHER • GB)
DOI10.1080/10361140500203936
OpenAlexW2017352813
IdiomaEN
Citações recebidas14
Referências citadas24

The first phase of India's Look East Policy in 1991 was exploratory in nature and tinged with more idealism and optimism to break out of the South Asian region which was stagnating in economic growth. The second phase of India's Look East policy took stock of the Asian Financial Crisis of 1997 to 1998 and China's growing linkages with the Southeast Asian region. In 1997, mainly through the diligence of Thailand, a new grouping that could act as a bridge between Southeast and South Asia was established called BIMSTEC. The objective of the paper will be to argue that BIMSTEC balances India's engagement with Southeast and South Asia but it also counters China's growing influence among ASEAN members, in particular Myanmar. Thailand is the driving force behind BIMSTEC activities as this would enhance its trade hub status and engagement policy with Cambodia, Myanmar, Laos and Vietnam (CMLV) states. Notes 1The process of globalization as alluded to here is multifaceted in nature and includes foreign investment, information exchange, world cultural commercialization and the integration of trade and production. (Boswell and Chase-Dunn, Citation2000, 33). 2The process of regionalization here refers to the integration process at the regional level of economies by the liberalization of markets and foreign direct investments (FDI). Alex E. Fernandez Jilberto and Andre Mommen, "Globalization Versus Regionalization", in (Jilberto and Mommen, Citation1998, 7–9). 3The South Asian Association for Regional Cooperation (SAARC) comprises Bangladesh, Bhutan, India, Pakistan, Nepal, Sri Lanka and Maldives. 4Bangladesh, India, Myanmar, Sri Lanka, Thailand – Economic Cooperation Forum. 5While Vietnam is still in the process of reconstructing its economy and infrastructure its influence remains subdued but in time it could emerge as a strong competitor in the grouping. 6In the late 1970s, Ziaur Rahman consulted a range of South Asian political leaders from Indian Prime Minister Morarji Desai and Sri Lankan President J.R. Jayawardene to King Birendra of Nepal on the needs to establish a South Asian economic grouping similar to ASEAN. 7Pakistan is a large consumer of tea but does not import directly tea from India one of the world's largest tea producers. Instead, Pakistan imports tea from China, Kenya and repackaged Indian tea from Dubai. 8The potential market and resource base of the Ganga Mekong area coupled with India's increasing exports and energy needs indicates that India will increasingly look towards integrating with this region. 9The Association of Southeast Asian Nations (ASEAN) has expended to include the 10 countries in Southeast Asia. They are, Brunei Darussalam, Indonesia, Malaysia, Philippines, Thailand, Singapore, Cambodia, Laos, Myanmar and Vietnam, Basudeb Guha-Khasnobis and Faisal Bari, "Sources of Growth in South Asian Sountries", in (Aluwalia, I.J. and Williamson, J. (eds) Citation2003, 43). 10ASEAN dialogue partners are of three main types; first, inter-regional cooperation, e.g., the European Union (EU), second, relations with individual countries and third, relations with international development institution, e.g. the UNDP, (Abidin, M.Z., Citation1996, 731). 11Between 1948 and 1994, the GATT received 124 notifications RTAs, since 1995, the WTO received an additional 90. Towards the end of 2002, approximately 134 RTAs are deemed to be in force. Geethanjali Nataraj and Pravakar Sahoo, 'Regional focus to step up trade', Business Line, 19 November 2002. 12The agreement aimed to build a seamless environment for electronic commerce among ASEAN members and to assist the CMLV states in developing their e-commerce potential. 13For example, Thailand will coordinate human resource development, focusing on food standards, new technologies, standards and testing facilities for gems and jewellery. India will coordinate information technology transfer with an online mall for gems and jewellery being one of the objectives. 14This includes communication networks and involvement in developing the trans-Asian roads and railway projects with Thailand and the CMLV states. 15The Greater Mekong Subregion comprises Cambodia, Laos, Myanmar, Thailand, Vietnam and the Yunnan Province of China. (Hourn, K.K. and Kaplan, J.A., Citation2000, 14). 16The Mekong Ganga Cooperation Group includes India, Thailand, Myanmar, Cambodia, Laos and Vietnam. 17For example, Indian External Affairs Minister Natwar Singh hosted a meeting in June 2004 for SAARC and ASEAN heads of diplomatic mission in Delhi to explain the strategy of the Common Minimum Programme of the Indian United Progressive Alliance government. 18The Asian Highway network route A1 is the busiest and best maintained road linking Pakistan, India, Bangladesh, Myanmar and Vietnam. 19Thailand began to shift away from its focus on the Bangkok metropolis as its economic and financial centre and implemented a regional approach to foster the economic diversity and speciality of its different regions. 20Report of the Third Meeting of BIMST-EC Energy Sector Committee of Experts/officials, 27–29 January 2002, Yangon, Myanmar. 21The BIMSTEC ministers agreed to liberalise transport links by moving towards an open skies and coastal shipping agreement to link members along the Bay of Bengal. A highway to be built linking India, Myanmar and Thailand was also agreed. To facilitate trade by shipping, India will undertake a feasibility study on developing a deep sea port in Dawei, along Myanmar's southwest coast and 300 kilometres from Bangkok. Additional informationNotes on contributorsFaizal Yahya Faizal Yahya is an Assistant Professor in the South Asian Studies Programme, Faculty of Arts and Social Sciences at the National University of Singapore. He attained his PhD in Economics from the University of Sydney, Australia and was an Australian Overseas Post graduate Research Scholar from 1994 to 1998

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