South East Asia and Oceania

About Centre

The South East Asia and Oceania Centre focuses on policy-relevant research with respect to the ten ASEAN states, East Timor and Oceania, including Australia and New Zealand. The Centre studies India’s bilateral and multilateral relations with states of the region with a view to providing contemporary relevance to India’s Look East policy. It has a futuristic-looking approach and examines the emerging trends in the regional security architecture. The Centre studies the potential for India’s enhanced defence cooperation (including maritime issues) and cooperation in non-traditional security issues with the region. It examines internal developments of countries in this region, especially political transitions and the role of the military, and their implications for India. The Centre seeks to promote Track-II institutional linkages with the region. Southeast Asia & Oceania Centre brings out a monthly newsletter – Insight Southeast Asia.

The Maldivian Crisis: What Can India do?

India will be able to help and support only to the extent that the demand for democracy and freedom from within Maldives continues to put pressure on Yameen and his security forces.

Ashok Sajjanhar
February 08, 2018
IDSA Comments

ASEAN-India: Challenges in Economic Partnership

Reciprocity and mutual understanding on common concerns will help both ASEAN and India to overcome some of the challenges facing their relationship.

Sampa Kundu
February 01, 2018
IDSA Comments

The India-ASEAN Partnership at 25

A stronger partnership and enhanced cooperation should be prioritised by both sides if the full potential of this engagement is to be realised.

Ashok Sajjanhar
January 04, 2018
IDSA Comments

US reorients policy towards Myanmar after Tillerson Visit

It may be appropriate if the US were to complement its substantial humanitarian and economic assistance by encouraging or even exerting pressure on Myanmar to implement the KAC recommendations.

Gautam Sen
November 27, 2017
IDSA Comments

India’s Strategic Connect with the World

The various connectivity projects put forward by India show its involvement as an investor in capacity-building efforts in the recipient countries across sectors of their particular needs and choices, not as an overarching and imposing economic power.

Sreemati Ganguli
October 23, 2017
IDSA Comments

Rohingya Crisis Needs a Regional Solution

The Rohingya crisis is not just Myanmar’s domestic problem but a regional issue and it needs to be tackled at the regional level in a more comprehensive way.

Sampa Kundu
September 08, 2017
IDSA Comments

India must step up diplomatic efforts on the Rohingya issue

The success of India's diplomacy will lie in the extent to which it can induce Naypyitaw to take a long view in the interests of its own political stability, internal security and social harmony.

Gautam Sen
August 16, 2017
IDSA Comments

BIMSTEC at 20: Hopes and Apprehensions

BIMSTEC needs to build on regional synergies and work towards utilising the available resources optimally by focusing on fewer priority areas and undertaking projects that are economically feasible.

Sampa Kundu
June 20, 2017
IDSA Comments

The 2017 By-elections in Myanmar: A Warning Signal for Suu Kyi?

The result of the by-election clearly indicates the need for the NLD government to speedily engender trust among the ethnic minorities. A successful peace process and peace negotiations can be one aspect of it.

Sampa Kundu
April 05, 2017
IDSA Comments

Visit of Myanmar President Upgrades Bilateral Ties

The message President Kyaw took back from New Delhi is that India stands ready to support Myanmar in every possible way on its march to security, reconciliation and prosperity.