Approach

Introduction: Start by defining the terms "Look East" and "Act East" policies and explain how these policies have been successful in increasing trade and cooperation between India and Southeast Asia or      

Body:       

Heading 1: Write the successes and drawbacks of the “Look East” and “Act East” policies.   

Heading 2: How Think and Relate East can help overcome the drawbacks. 

Conclusion: Restate the importance of India adopting a more proactive approach to engaging with the Indo-Pacific region. 

Answer: 

"Think and Relate East" deals with India's engagement with the Indo-Pacific region which goes beyond the traditional "Look East" and "Act East" policies, which were focused on economic and strategic engagement with Southeast Asia. "Think and Relate East" takes a more holistic approach, and seeks to build deeper cultural, social, and political ties with the region, with emphasis on India’s North-East. 

Need to go beyond “Look East” and “Act East” policies: 

Despite the many benefits of "Look East" and "Act East" policies like strengthened diplomatic relations, strategic ties, enhanced trade and economic cooperation, increased connectivity etc., the policies had their limitations. These include- 

• Implementation challenges: Despite progress, delays and hurdles in project implementation have affected the speed and depth of cooperation. 

• For example, the IMT highway project was scheduled to be ready by 2015 but now it is expected to be completed only by 2023. 

• Trade imbalance: The trade balance between India and Southeast Asian countries favours the latter, necessitating efforts to address imbalances and promote balanced trade relations. 

• For instance, India's trade deficit with Southeast Asia stood at $25.8 billion in 2021-22. 

• Limited focus on Northeastern India: The Look East policy has not been able to address the multiple challenges faced by the region including poor infrastructure, education, healthcare, employment, and increased insurgency. 

• For instance, economic integration of the North-East with other parts of India is hindered by geography and lack of connectivity initiatives.  

• Growing influence of China: The growing influence of China on Southeast Asian nations poses threat in the form of strategic realignments and economic dependencies. The two policies have not been able to counter this. 

• For example, China's increasing influence in Myanmar through infrastructure projects like the BRI. 

Benefits of Think and Relate East 

• Economic Opportunities: Strengthening cultural and people-to-people connections can create a conducive environment for increased trade, investments, and economic collaborations between Northeast India and East Asian countries. 

• It leads to enhanced market access, diversification of trade, and economic growth for India. 

• Regional Influence: By actively engaging with the East and building strong relationships, India can expand its regional influence and play a more prominent role in shaping regional agendas and decision-making processes. 

• Security Cooperation: Building trust and closer relationships through cultural exchanges and people-to-people connections can lay the foundation for enhanced security cooperation. 

• It can involve intelligence-sharing, and coordinated efforts to address common security challenges such as terrorism, piracy etc. 

• Knowledge Exchange and Innovation: Collaborative projects in education, research, and technology can facilitate knowledge exchange and innovation between Northeast India and East Asian countries. 

• People-to-People Connections: The approach encourages initiatives that facilitate direct interactions and collaborations between individuals, academia, artists, and professionals from different countries. 

• For example, cultural exchange programs, like art festivals, film collaborations, and academic exchanges. 

The "Think and Relate East" approach is a new and innovative way for India to engage with the Indo-Pacific region. This approach is necessary for India to protect its interests in the region and to play a more active role in shaping the future of the Indo-Pacific.