India recently decided to abstain from the UN draft resolution voting on the North Korean human rights investigation and to scrap the minesweepers deal with South Korea. Even if these subjects are not very sensitive to India’s overall strategic concerns, these decisions do not reflect well on India’s maturity as a regional power
Will India’s “Act East” policy be successful without getting the course of action right with the two KoreasIJ
India recently decided to abstain from the UN draft resolution voting on the North Korean human rights investigation and to scrap the minesweepers deal with South Korea. Both these subjects may not be extremely sensitive to India’s overall strategic concerns, but these decisions do not reflect well on India’s maturity as a regional power, mainly in terms of gaining confidence with South Korea, one of the principal economic powers in East Asia, as a “strategic partner”.
Human rights conditions in North Korea under Kim Jong Un have been an international issue for some time, but to no avail. Western countries are pressurising North Korean regime to improve its human rights practices or face UN intervention and sanctions. The issue has also been an emotional one between the two Koreas. South Korea is trying to raise the issue at different international forums in order to have a greater say in Korean affairs. This week, the United Nations passed a draft case resolution, titled as Situation of human rights in the Democratic People’s Republic of Korea, referring the matter for a review and investigation in the International Criminal Court (ICC). The draft resolution was approved at the Third Committee of the UN General Assembly (A/C.3/69/l.28/Rev.1*) by 111:19 votes; with 55 members, including India, abstained. As on earlier occasions, this draft resolution may be blocked eventually by China and Russia at the UNSC.
India’s decision to abstain in the recent voting appears “politically correct”. India has for long prudently managed its “two Koreas” policy, preferring to engage with both Koreas softly. Has the time come for a nuanced revisit of this policyIJ Rather than abstaining from UN draft resolution, India could well have decided to oppose the draft, thus pleasing the North Koreans more. Does the decision to abstain reflect upon India’s maturity as a leading power in East Asian politicsIJ It may serve India’s interests temporarily, but not in the longer term when India is aiming to amplify its reach in the East Asian region. India as a democratic country must have a stated position on human rights issues and must have an expressed standpoint, no matter whether it is in favour of or against North Korea. Seoul may find this Indian position as vacillating. It is not that India has to take a position in every conflicting issue, but India has not really shown any articulated position in East Asia that will reflect a standpoint of a regional leader. Be it the South China Sea or East China Sea, India has taken a neutral stance mostly keeping itself away from conflict. It is time for India to review this position and signify a leadership stance. India should even have a nuanced stance over the Korean unification matter and start taking an articulated standpoint on most of the matters concerning the Korean peninsula, including the North Korean human rights issue.
As regards the Indian Government’s decision to cancel arms deal with South Korea’s Kangnam Corporation on the basis that there were middlemen involved in the transaction, the decision does stand scrutiny in terms of ethics. But the bearing of this cancellation is huge for India’s defence and strategic engagement with South Korea. India should perhaps have sought a middle path to review the deal. The price and quotation details could have been revisited without compromising on quality. There was also an option for India to take up the matter at the highest political and military levels with South Korea. A final decision in the matter could also have been taken during Prime Minister Narendra Modi’s anticipated visit to Seoul next year while India could have gone for defence dealings with other countries. India is now South Korea’s strategic partner, and taking Seoul into confidence at the highest level could have served well for India-South Korea relations. No matter which Government is at the Centre, matters relating to international dealings and security-centric issues must have a decisive policy backing and continuity.
Since the establishment of the “Strategic Partnership” between India and South Korea in January 2010, the relations between the two countries have been on an upward drive in many areas, including defence, science & technology, culture, trade and economy, and, most importantly, on strategic affairs covering foreign policy issues. The Indian Mission in Seoul has a defence wing; so also does South Korea’s Mission in New Delhi. The two countries have an agreement on the “Protocol of Classified Military Information”, which is expected to generate confidence and establish further collaboration between the two countries. The leadership from both sides agreed earlier to strengthen cooperation in the defence industrial sector, aiming to push forward the strategic partnership.
The South Korean defence bazaar is one of the best in the world. The Government in Seoul sees India as a market with a huge potential for its military-oriented wares. Many experts in Seoul are of the view that partnership with South Korea can be a key to India’s arms imports, joint production and manufacture. Following up on this track would be a progressive step in matching the Modi Government’s “Make in India” campaign.
Further, in the recent past, India has displayed a variety of its advanced weapons and technologies in the “Seoul Aerospace and Defense Exhibition”. Most scientists and experts in South Korea have a high opinion of India’s missile programme and aerospace technologies. To optimally benefit from the goodwill that exists in South Korea in this field, India should not confine or limit its defence relations with South Korea to a buyer-seller relationship. Indian defence PSUs and companies need to establish closer ties with the South Korean defence companies, which will help them identify potential buyers in South Korea. As a body closely associated with the Government, KOTRA (Korea Trade Investment Promotion Agency) has facilitated such deals for South Korea with companies in South America and the West Asia. Policymakers in India need to have a detailed discussion with KOTRA. Policymakers and experts in Seoul need in their turn to appreciate the Indian functioning style under the Modi Government and respect ethical standard in defence market dealings.
India’s “Act East” policy looks inspiring under the new Government, and India seems to be riding high with a good strategic flow both in East Asia and Asia-Pacific. Modi’s recent visit to Japan, Myanmar, Australia and Fiji has reaped a new enthusiasm among the East Asian communities. Seoul must not be overlooked in this context. Prime Minister Modi’s forthcoming visit to Seoul must redefine India-South Korea ties afresh. India must also tread on the two Koreas issue carefully, prioritising South Korea. Prime Minister Modi met South Korean President Park Geunhye in Myanmar recently on the sidelines of the ASEAN and EAS meeting. This meeting must act as a prelude to help India to prepare well for its Prime Minister’s visit to Seoul.
(The writer is Research Fellow and currently heading the East Asia Centre as Coordinator at Institute for Defence Studies and Analyses (IDSA), New Delhi. He recently participated in KODAS 2014 in Seoul. He can be reached at: jppjagannath@gmail.com)