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DTSTART;TZID=Asia/Kolkata:20070209T053000
DTEND;TZID=Asia/Kolkata:20070209T053000
DTSTAMP:20261111T010433
CREATED:20231223T124952Z
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UID:62707-1170999000-1170999000@idsa.in
SUMMARY:Keynote Address at the 9th Asian Security Conference
DESCRIPTION:Hon’ble Vice President\, Shri. A. K. Antony\, the Defence Minister of India\, Mr. M. Sonampil\, the Minister of Defence\, Mongolia\, Shri N. S. Sisodia\, Excellences\, Ladies and Gentlemen\, \nI am honoured to address the Inaugural Session of the 9th Asian Security Conference. I see that you have an exhaustive agenda. I am sure your discussions over today and tomorrow would be fruitful and would advance understanding and the search for co-operative solutions to Asian security dilemmas. \nIt is befitting that sixty years since the Asian Relations Conference was held in this city\, this Conference with the theme of Southeast Asia is taking place in New Delhi. Southeast Asia is the starting point of India’s Look East policy. This policy conceived in and pursued since the early 1990s was prompted by significant changes in the global politico-economic scenario and by initiation of economic reforms and liberalisation in India. ASEAN’s economic\, political and strategic importance in the Asia-Pacific region and its potential to become a major partner of India in trade and investment were significant elements in our approach. Over time\, this policy gradually evolved to include the Far Eastern and Pacific regions. It also facilitated enhanced links with China\, Japan\, Republic of Korea\, Australia\, New Zealand\, Fiji\, Papua New Guinea and Pacific Island States. \nToday Southeast Asia and India are partners in harnessing our respective economic\, technical and professional strengths. ASEAN countries and India also have a convergence in security perspectives\, a common interest in peace and stability in the region and in the maintenance of security of sea lanes of communication. We now have regular\, annual dialogue at my level and at the Summit level. These political level interactions are further enriched by meetings of senior officials as also specialised working groups in functional areas – science and technology\, health\, trade and investment and transport and infrastructure. The signing of the “India-ASEAN Partnership for Peace\, Progress and Shared Prosperity” at the 3rd India-ASEAN Summit in Vientiane in November 2004 was a key development in our relations. The 5th Summit in Cebu last month has given further momentum to India-ASEAN ties. \nThe resurgence of Asia in political and economic terms has been accompanied by the rise of powerful economic forces unleashed by globalisation and the trend towards regional economic integration. The engagement in the political and security arena has either followed or led to progressive economic integration in terms of Free Trade Agreements and Comprehensive Economic Co-operation Agreements that have either been concluded or are being negotiated with countries of the region. Since 1990\, when our Look East Policy was initiated\, our trade with countries of the region has grown from US $ 8.1 billion to $ 67.5 billion and the share of trade with these countries in our global trade has increased from 19.4 per cent to 28.2 per cent. Following the agreement reached at the Cebu Summit\, we hope soon to conclude negotiations on a bilateral Free Trade Agreement with ASEAN. Our vision\, as articulated by Prime Minister during the India-ASEAN Business Summit in New Delhi on October 19\, 2004\, is that of an “Asian Economic Community\,” which would be the driver of growth and economic integration in the entire region. \nThe usage of the term East Asia has over time expanded from its narrow confines of North East Asia to encompass the entire region from India to Japan. The First East Asia Summit (EAS) held in Kuala Lampur in December 2005 was a historic event that underlined this evolution. Speaking at the Summit\, Prime Minister Dr. Manmohan Singh said that the long-term goal of the EAS should be the creation of a harmonious and prosperous community of nations that would pool its resources to tackle common challenges. He also observed that a virtual Asian Economic Community was emerging with the Free Trade Agreements (FTAs) amongst countries of the region. However\, there is a need for a wider perspective so that ongoing processes could become building blocks for a larger vision. It was in this context that we have suggested a Pan-Asian Free Trade Arrangement that could be the starting point for the Economic Community. Such a community would be the third pole of the world economy after the European Union and the North American Free Trade Area (NAFTA). \nThe theme of this conference – security\, cannot be looked at in isolation from these broader political and economic developments. Even in a narrower sense\, a significant aspect of our ‘Look East’ policy has been the growing co-operation and dialogue on security issues both bilaterally with ASEAN countries as well as through multilateral institutions like the ASEAN Regional Forum (ARF)\, which also brings in significant non-ASEAN players in the Asian region. Our focus\, including in our bilateral dialogues and co-operative activities with neighbouring states in Southeast Asia and East Asia\, has been on issues like border security\, maritime security\, counter terrorism and energy security. I am delighted to note that your agenda broadly reflects the priorities we have chalked in our dialogues with countries of the region. \nAsia’s security environment is unique given its geographical expanse and the political\, economic and cultural diversity of the region. Our view has been that in Asia\, a pluralistic security order based on a co-operative approach to security is the answer. For one\, such a polycentric security order would be accommodative of the diversity of the region. It would also be a reflection of the growing strength and confidence\, manifested either individually or through organisations such as ASEAN\, of the various economic and security players in the region. In today’s increasingly interconnected world\, each participant has an equal stake and responsibility. Only a pluralistic security order working through a network of co-operative structures can have the legitimacy as well as the wherewithal to deal with the security challenges of the 21st century. This vision has guided our approach to Asian security right from the Asian Relations Conference of 1946 to the recent initiatives including the ‘Look East’ policy. \nOur participation in the ASEAN Regional Forum (ARF)\, which we value\, flows from this vision\, the ‘Look East’ policy and closer links with ASEAN as a full-dialogue partner. We consider ASEAN as the driving force of the ARF and believe that the ASEAN way of ‘dialogue and consensus’ should remain the ARF’s guiding principle. Participation in the ARF also enables us to engage with a broader range of countries beyond the ASEAN underlining India’s commitment and goal in ensuring regional peace and stability. It also underscores our belief that from India’s perspective co-operative security can be looked at only in a broader context going beyond Cold War notions of sub-regions. I am happy to note that there is a greater recognition today of India’s stabilising role in the region born out of our restraint\, our economic dynamism and potential\, the history of our civilisational engagement and our role as a firewall against destabilising ideas and influences. Encouraged by this we will continue to seek in our interaction with countries of the region greater political and economic convergence\, closer people to people links through cultural co-operation and education exchanges and meaningful security co-operation to meet common challenges. \nMay I conclude by wishing you success in your deliberations. Thank you.
URL:https://idsa.in/idsa-event/keynote-address-at-the-9th-asian-security-conference
CATEGORIES:KEY SPEECHES,Asian Security Conference,ASC Key Speeches
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DTSTART;TZID=Asia/Kolkata:20070209T053000
DTEND;TZID=Asia/Kolkata:20070209T053000
DTSTAMP:20261111T010433
CREATED:20231223T124957Z
LAST-MODIFIED:20240229T001807Z
UID:62708-1170999000-1170999000@idsa.in
SUMMARY:Inaugural Address at the 9th Asian Security Conference
DESCRIPTION:Namaskar\, Good Morning\, \nI am happy to be here in your midst today on the important occasion when the Institute for Defence Studies and Analyses (IDSA)\, after 40 years of its existence\, enters its own home. On this auspicious house warming event\, I offer my felicitations and greetings to you Mr. President and to all members of the IDSA family. This is certainly a day of rejoicing for IDSA\, its extended family and scholars within India and abroad. Everyone would greatly benefit working in this beautiful campus equipped with all necessary facilities. \nIDSA owes this campus to the resources successive Ministers of Defence have provided so very generously. I compliment them on their farsightedness and magnanimity. I also congratulate all those who planned this project and executed it\, particularly the workers who toiled day and night to complete this project. \nLadies and Gentlemen\, IDSA was founded in 1965 by men of vision. They had a dream to create a great Institution\, an Institution dedicated to the cause of knowledge\, and the cause of security. It is a matter of satisfaction as well as pride that over the years IDSA has made a remarkable contribution to strategic thinking. Its research has helped policy making and provided alternatives to decision makers. It has often led the debates on important issues of national and international security. It has disseminated ideas and information on the security challenges of our time. \nI am very impressed to learn that the Institute’s scholars have recently adopted a vision statement to develop IDSA into a world class Institution. The pursuit of this laudable goal will require long term sustained effort with a sense of commitment and dedication. Besides\, IDSA will also need help from many quarters\, especially the Government. to ensure that IDSA’s work becomes policy relevant\, the interaction between the Institute’s scholars and policy makers will need to be improved. The Institute will also have to pay special attention to the quality of its software\, i.e. the human resource. On this auspicious occasion I wish the IDSA family of scholars all success in realising their cherished vision. \nFriends\, it is the natural craving of the people of the world to live in an environment of security\, peace and harmony so as to be able to pursue the path of progress and development. Over the years mankind has made great progress in varied fields. After the end of the Cold War period\, during the last decade of the 20th century\, it was felt that security problems would also be resolved to a large extent. However\, the hard reality is that despite continuing efforts made to bring about peace\, the 20th century has proved to be the most violent in human history and all out nuclear war between the two superpowers could have ended the human civilization as we know it and perhaps brought about a nuclear winter. Many millions lost their lives in World Wars I & II. Even when there was no major war during the Cold War era of 1945-1990\, at least 20 million people were killed during this period of ‘long peace’. After the Cold War\, during the 1990s\, many armed conflicts took place\, about 6 million people were killed and around 12 million people had been displaced from their homes. \nFriends\, war is an evil game\, it is also financially a very costly luxury at the expense of programmes for overcoming under-development and welfare of the people. World War II is estimated to have cost $ 13 billion in direct costs. Wars and conflicts also bring about financial burdens in the form of peace keeping and reconstruction. The cost of UN Peace Keeping between 1991 and 2002 alone was $ 21.5 billion. Besides\, there is an added cost of defence preparedness. The world today spends a mind boggling figure of over $ 1000 billion per annum on defence. how one wishes at least some of this vast unproductive expenditure could be saved for the sake of alleviation of widespread world poverty and achieving the millennium development goals. \nLadies and Gentlemen\, we have to\, sadly enough\, admit the hard reality that while mankind has succeeded in achieving outstanding progress in a number of fields\, it has failed in making the world more secure. Situations of potential conflicts and wars still exist. Besides\, new dangers are also emerging; these include the spread of weapons of mass destruction\, extremism and terrorism\, international crime\, trafficking in drugs\, and the like. There are also new non-traditional threats like global warming\, competition for scarce resources of water\, energy and strategic materials\, cyber warfare\, genetic engineering and possible weaponisation of space. This emerging grim scenario poses a big and formidable challenge to our security environment. \nThe principal challenges before mankind are\, therefore\, to see how violence can be minimised\, how the world can be made more secure for human progress and how this progress can be made more inclusive. These are indeed daunting challenges and this is where scholars and institutes like the IDSA have a crucial role to play. Your work and those of your institutions can help us understand better the root causes of the threats we face\, their changing nature and the possible manner in which these can be tackled. Your inputs to policy makers are\, of course\, important but you also play an equally significant role in informing the civil society and communities at large. \nFriends\, we are living in the era of globalisation. However\, instead of one unified global world we are witnessing its increasing fragmentation into civilizational superpowers with potential ‘clash of civilizations’. Our planet Earth is getting divided into\, what one scholar has called\, different emotional zones of conflicting ideology of thoughts and extreme rigidity of views. Even in the field of trade and business\, globalisation has led to some negative consequences. It has resulted in great disparities in many parts of the world\, led to anger and alienation on the part of the deprived and the under-privileged\, and in some cases this has even ended up in violence. This certainly is not the true globalisation that we were looking for. \nFriends\, I believe true globalisation begets interdependence and interdependence begets the necessity of a common value system to make it work. We need a common value system to combat terrorism or extremism of any sort\, as also to combat the ravages of poverty\, famine\, disease and under-development. \nThe focus of globalisation today should not be merely on trade and business; it ought to aim at building an ethos of global values of shared conviction and belief in values of democracy\, liberty\, religious tolerance and human rights and in acceptance of the principles and values of plurality and respect for diversity. The universal application of these common global values alone would have the capacity to generate a more secured and peaceful environment. \nLadies and Gentlemen\, today is also the beginning of IDSA’s 9th Asian Security Conference. Celebrating the house-warming of its new campus with the holding of this important Conference is indeed very appropriate as also in keeping with the tradition of IDSA not to lose any opportunity to do serious business. I extend my warm greetings to all the delegates to the Conference. \nThe theme of the Conference\, “Security Dynamics in Southeast Asia” is also very relevant. India and Southeast Asia have enjoyed a special relationship throughout history. India and Southeast Asia are home to many languages\, cultures\, religions and ethnic groups. In fact\, we share a common vision of human progress\, peace\, security and economic development. This relationship assumes even greater importance today. The 21st century has rightly been called the Asian Century. Spurred by impressive industrial and economic growth\, Asia will be a conglomerate superpower synergistically unified in its diversity. Some scholars have even observed that today when the world scenario is dotted with conflicts as also clashes of emotions\, Asia happily displays a culture of hope. It is\, therefore\, very appropriate that study and research on issues related to the security environment of the Asian region receive due priority and importance. \nLadies and Gentlemen\, ‘security’ is an indivisible concept. No country in today’s world can remain in isolation. The nature of the threats we face today\, like spread of weapons\, terrorism\, global warming\, epidemic diseases\, demographic challenges and extremist ideologies\, is trans-national. No nation can meet these threats and challenges alone. Conferences like these are an ideal opportunity to understand each other’s perspectives\, explore co-operative approaches to security and find ways of working together to make the world a safer place. \nWith these words I have great pleasure to inaugurate this Conference. I do hope the Conference will provide an excellent opportunity to the distinguished delegates to contribute to a larger understanding of the issues and problems affecting us today. I wish you success in your purposeful deliberations. \nThank you Shri Pranab Mukherjee\, President of IDSA for asking me to be here this morning. It has\, indeed\, been a great pleasure to share my thoughts with you all. \nNamaskar.
URL:https://idsa.in/idsa-event/inaugural-address-at-the-9th-asian-security-conference
CATEGORIES:KEY SPEECHES,Asian Security Conference,ASC Key Speeches
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DTSTART;TZID=Asia/Kolkata:20070209T053000
DTEND;TZID=Asia/Kolkata:20070209T053000
DTSTAMP:20261111T010433
CREATED:20231223T124957Z
LAST-MODIFIED:20240229T001729Z
UID:62709-1170999000-1170999000@idsa.in
SUMMARY:Luncheon Address at the 9th Asian Security Conference
DESCRIPTION:Ladies and Gentlemen\, \nIt is a special privilege to me to address this distinguished audience. First\, I would like to thank Hon’ble Pranab Mukherjee for inviting me to this conference. I would like to thank Hon’ble A. K. Antony for giving me an opportunity to visit India and get a closer look at the country\, which I read and heard about a lot. \nI think some people may be guessing on Mongolian Defence Minister’s participation in the conference on South-East Asia’s Security Dynamics. Let me explain in a few words about my business here at the conference. \nAs a Member of Parliament and Cabinet\, I am tasked by the Mongolian Government to participate at the 9th Asian Security Conference to promote Mongolian security policy and to inform the distinguished audience on our willingness for broader engagement in Asia’s security institutions. \nToday security issues are not able to be confined within a single country\, neighbours and regions as well as within geographical terms. Mongolia is neighbouring only with two countries\, Russia and China\, enjoying good\, friendly relationship. In traditional understanding of security it should be good enough. But our understanding of national security is much broader so we are keen to get engaged into regional and global security co-operation. \nIn this sense Mongolia’s incline towards South-East Asia\, the only region in Asia with established working security dialogue institutions appears to be logical. Mongolia is giving a significant importance in this direction of its foreign and security policy. Besides positive results of our actions we face some difficulties\, which often do come along with new policies. In my consideration these difficulties are the remnants of our recent past. Throughout most part of the 20th century Mongolia was dominated by the world’s most notorious\, self-isolated communist regime\, which was thrown out in 1990. From that time on Mongolia is successfully pursuing a democratic way of development. A decade of democratisation of its governance and social life\, opening up its economy to global economic co-operation for free trade and investment have started to bring its first results. Mongolia has already passed the difficult time of transition and enjoying a time of relatively stable growth with 8 to 10 per cent of annual GDP growth. \nIn 1997 Mongolia joined ARF\, and since that time has actively participated in its activities. Furthermore we want to deepen our involvement in ARF activities with particular reference to the security agenda. Mongolia is an observer to the SCO\, the organisation establishing itself as a political\, security and economic co-operation institution with growing international recognition and importance. We are looking for broadening our participation in SCO. \nMongolia has received an invitation for membership in Asia-Europe Meeting (ASEM). We are looking for full membership in 2007 during its annual meeting this time in Beijing\, China. \nIn November 2005 Mongolia signed the ASEAN Treaty of Amity and Co-operation\, looking forward for membership in East Asia forum\, which\, we hope\, will be able to evolve itself into the important political\, economic and security co-operation institution in East Asia. \nWe are expecting an APEC membership in 2007\, after its new membership moratorium will end. We are also looking for support of APEC members on such an important occasion for us. \nLadies and Gentlemen\, \nIt was my attempt to briefly inform you on my nation’s foreign and security policy within this short time given to me. It was a great opportunity and privilege to me to inform such a distinguished audience consisting of governments or their think tanks and top officials from all Asia and Pacific. I believe that your understanding and goodwill would be imperative for Mongolia’s future prospects. \nThank you all again. \nI wish a great success to the 9th Asian Security Conference.
URL:https://idsa.in/idsa-event/luncheon-address-at-the-9th-asian-security-conference
CATEGORIES:KEY SPEECHES,Asian Security Conference,ASC Key Speeches
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DTSTART;TZID=Asia/Kolkata:20070209T053000
DTEND;TZID=Asia/Kolkata:20070209T053000
DTSTAMP:20261111T010433
CREATED:20231223T124957Z
LAST-MODIFIED:20240229T001645Z
UID:62710-1170999000-1170999000@idsa.in
SUMMARY:Special Address at the 9th Asian Security Conference
DESCRIPTION:Hon’ble Vice President of India Shri Bhairon Singh Shekhawat ji\, \nHon’ble External Affairs Minister and President of IDSA\, Shri Pranab Mukherjee\, \nDirector IDSA\, Shri N. S. Sisodia \nExcellencies\, distinguished delegates\, ladies and gentlemen\, \nI am delighted to be here on this historic occasion of the inauguration of the IDSA’s new premises. The occasion becomes even more special as it coincides with the opening of the 9th Asian Security Conference. \nIDSA has come a long way since its beginning in 1965. It now enters a new phase through this premises. I am glad that the new IDSA campus is located next to the United Service Institution of India. This is not a coincidence. Indeed\, it was envisaged that physical proximity between the two institutions will enable greater synergy through increased access to each others’ facilities. It will also enhance their ability to work together in diverse areas. \nApart from this building\, the Institute’s state-of-the-art library will be the pride of the institute. I am told that IDSA library has added to its collection some of the best works in contemporary strategic and security studies. The strategic studies community will find it even more useful once the new Library building becomes operational. \nThe IDSA has adopted a vision statement to develop as a world-class institute. This is the beginning of long and arduous journey. The Institute will need full support of all its stakeholders. The improved infrastructure and new facilities should prove an important step forward to achieve this goal. \nIDSA provides a useful interface between civilian scholars and service officers. It is a long-standing convention for serving defence officers to be deputed on fellowship to the Institute\, to provide crucial military inputs to civilian scholars. This has given the civilian scholars much needed exposure to defence-related issues. Similarly\, the service officers also benefit immensely from their association with IDSA\, resulting in a better understanding of global and regional strategic issues. However\, this interaction needs to be further strengthened by encouraging academically inclined officers of the Armed Forces to work with IDSA. Without access to classified information and experience of working in defence establishments\, it is difficult for civilian scholars to work meaningfully on issues related to defence policy. It is therefore\, vital that our military officers\, having an aptitude for research and analyses take greater interest in this field. \nI have been told that the IDSA has decided to launch a new journal on defence policy studies. This would enable the institute to focus its attention on defence-related issues. \nWe have decided to establish a new chair in defence economics in the IDSA. The formalities have been completed and Rs.50 lakhs have been earmarked as the initial corpus for this chair. This should help in creating a nucleus in defence economics\, an area\, which has been neglected till now. The nation should get maximum value for the money spent on its defence services. This goal can be achieved by analysing the present utilization of defence budgets\, by exploring more cost-effective ways of doing this; learning from success stories of other countries; and most importantly\, through new ideas and innovation. It is my firm belief this chair will initiate the process of analytical studies in the area. \nThe biggest challenge facing us is the modernization of our Armed Forces. Security challenges in the 21st century are different from those we faced in the past. The nature of warfare has undergone large-scale transformation. Conventional wars are less likely\, yet complex threats are emerging. The defence forces have to adapt themselves to the changing nature of warfare. This challenge is by no means unique to our country alone. Indeed\, this changing nature of warfare and the threat scenario are compelling defence forces all over the world to transform themselves adequately. \nInnovative thinking is the need of the hour. There is also a need to evaluate the pioneering work done by other countries in this regard. While defence planners in the Government continuously look at these issues\, think tanks like IDSA\, the USI and other Foundations can help this process through their research findings and perspectives. \nI will be addressing some issues being considered by this year’s Asian Security Conference at the Valedictory Session tomorrow. However\, I would\, like to take this opportunity to congratulate the IDSA for holding this conference on an extremely relevant theme. This year’s conference on South-east Asia has come at a time when India is looking to increase and deepen its relations with the East and South-east. India’s Look East policy has fostered closer economic relations with the South-east Asian region. It has paid rich dividends and today India has a booming economic and defence partnership with the nations of this region. I wish to quote from Hon’ble Prime Minister’s speech at the Third India-ASEAN Business Summit in October 2004 in New Delhi: “A decade ago we unveiled our “Look East” policy. We wish to “Look East” because of the centuries of interaction between us. This tradition\, and our faith in principles of democracy and pluralism\, bring us together. We also share a desire for a stable\, secure and equitable new world order.” \nOur history\, common values and a common vision make the deliberations of the conference important for both India and South East Asia. I once again congratulate IDSA on the inauguration of its new premises. I wish the 9th Annual Asian Security Conference all success. \nThank you and Jai Hind.
URL:https://idsa.in/idsa-event/special-address-at-the-9th-asian-security-conference
CATEGORIES:KEY SPEECHES,Asian Security Conference,ASC Key Speeches
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DTSTART;TZID=Asia/Kolkata:20070210T053000
DTEND;TZID=Asia/Kolkata:20070210T053000
DTSTAMP:20261111T010433
CREATED:20231223T124951Z
LAST-MODIFIED:20240229T001519Z
UID:62706-1171085400-1171085400@idsa.in
SUMMARY:Closing Remarks at the 9th Asian Security Conference
DESCRIPTION:Distinguished Scholars\, diplomats\, ladies and gentlemen\, \n“It is indeed a Privilege for me to address the distinguished delegates gathered for this Conference. The deliberations have covered a wide spectrum of security issues relating to South-East Asia Within the broader context of the Asia-Pacific region. \nIndia’s connections With South-East Asia go back to historic times. With the seas being the primary medium of communications in those days\, India acted as a bridge for trade between eastern Asia and the West. This interaction also witnessed a mutual exchange of Political ideas\, Culture\, religion\, art and language between India and modern-day South-East Asia. \nIndia’s relations with its extended neighbourhood have received a fillip with the formulation of its ‘Look East’ policy in early 1990s. Forging comprehensive and mutually beneficial bonds with South-East Asia has been the cornerstone of this policy. Today\, this region comprises the most dynamic and progressive economies\, and its close interaction With India is amply reflected in the ASEAN- India summit at Cebu (The Philippines) last month. In 1990\, India’s trade with ASEAN stood at mere 2.4 billion US dollars. It has now grown ten-fold to 23 billion US dollars by 2005 and is expected to cross 30 billion US dollars this year. A Free Trade Agreement (FTA) is also likely by the middle of this year. Besides trade\, our countries are also seeking to benefit through people-to- people contacts and cooperation in areas like agriculture\, technology and energy. \nIn the regional context\, the contours of an Asian economic integration are beginning to take shape. The East Asia Summit (EAS) has gathered a self-sustaining momentum towards the creation of an East Asian Community in the coming years. It may even lead to a larger Asian solidarity\, as envisioned by Pandit Nehru in the early 1950s. We perceive the comprehensive interaction with South-East Asia as a vehicle for regional growth. It will eventually lead to prosperity and true peace in the entire region.  \nHowever\, economic progress and social development will need a conducive environment for growth\, particularly in terms of regional stability and security. The end of the Cold War did provide the necessary systemic conditions\, but it was at best only a transitional phase. Over the last few years\, the region as a whole has witnessed a steady realignment of geo-strategic equations. Along with these changes the accentuation of geo-political fault- lines has severe security ramifications for the region in general\, and for the South-East Asian states in particular. North Korea’s nuclear programme has heightened regional concerns. It has once again raised the complex issue of the proliferation of Weapons of Mass Destruction. Thus\, it is not surprising that the regional states have been shaping their strategic response to the prevailing regional dynamics in a major way. \nJapan with its strong economy and technological base has always possessed strong defence forces\, but these have been placed under self-imposed Constitutional restrictions. The emerging security scenario in the region has already triggered a debate in Japan about realizing its strategic potential and charting a course to become a ‘normal’ state. \nWe in India are working towards an amicable resolution of the political and security dissonance with Pakistan and enhance stability in the region. We favour politico-diplomatic negotiations to resolve political differences\, in consonance with the principles contained in the Treaty of Amity and Cooperation (TAC) of the ASEAN\, which India signed in 2003. While India was compelled by the then prevailing security environment to conduct the nuclear test of 1998\, we have always firmly adhered to the doctrine of ‘credible minimum deterrence’. Its fundamental elements are ‘no-first use’ (NFU)\, ‘non-use against non-nuclear weapons states’\, and a voluntary moratorium on further testing. Our credentials on nuclear non-proliferation have been acknowledged by one and all. The initiatives by world powers to accommodate it within the global non-proliferation framework testify to this. India has always been fully committed to the goal of complete elimination of nuclear weapons from the world. This stance is rooted in the realization that the expenditure on security must be balanced with our investment on national development and alleviation of poverty. This is the reason why India’s defence expenditure is a modest 2.5 per cent of the GDP and has never crossed 3 per cent since the early 1990s. \nNon-traditional threats also weigh heavily on the security calculus of the regional states. More than five years after 9/11\, one continues to find such terrorism in the region\, adding fuel to centrifugal tendencies in many countries of South-East Asia. With terrorists increasingly vying for novel and technology-driven means to conduct their dastardly operations\, their possible access to Weapons of Mass Destruction has become the single biggest threat to global security in our times. \nBesides terrorism\, other low-intensity threats like sea-piracy pose a direct challenge to the security of sea-lines of communication (SLOCs). The most critical global sea-routes for maritime trade pass through the Straits of Malacca and Singapore. However\, this vital waterway has become highly insecure due to piracy. Though piracy has reduced considerably since 2003\, the changing contours of the crime and the coordination among pirates needs to be countered strongly.There is also widespread fear that with the nautical expertise acquired from pirates\, terrorists may strike in the Malacca Straits. This would spell disaster for the global economy\, more so for the regional states. With more than half of India’s merchandise trade sailing eastwards\, this vital sea-passage assumes critical importance for India as well. During last year’s Shangri La dialogue held at Singapore\, India indicated both its willingness and capability to assist the littoral states in contributing to the safety and security of the Malacca Straits in any manner acceptable to them.  \nDrug trafficking and illegal trade in small-arms place has increased demands on the security establishments of states. Many other threats like epidemics and natural disasters do not recognize national boundaries. It is thus crucial for regional states to share their resources and harmonise their efforts. Different countries have varying degrees of threat perceptions. The essence of regional security and stability lies in successfully identifying the congruence of interests.  \nA less known and perhaps lesser appreciated fact is that while India shares its land border only with Myanmar\, three South-East Asian states -Myanmar\, Thailand and Indonesia are its maritime neighbours -by virtue of the Andaman and Nicobar Islands chain. \nSuch geographic proximity leads to a significant overlap of security interests between India and the South-East Asian states. The tri- services Unified Command was established in 2001 at Andaman and Nicobar to foster greater synergy with South-East Asia to deal with common security threats. This is best exemplified by ‘Milan’ -the biennial congregation of regional navies at Port Blair since mid- 1990s. More recently\, the coordinated naval patrols with Indonesia and Thailand were instituted. \nlndia’s defence ties with the South-East Asian countries have been strengthened\, along with the realization of the tremendous potential in the field. This cooperation is solely aimed at capacity- building of Armed Forces to deal with maritime insecurities and threats of transnational terrorism and other organized crimes. However\, it has purely defensive attributes and is not aimed at any third country. Our cooperation is extremely crucial for our collective ability to deal with natural disasters. This is borne out by the joint disaster relief operations in the aftermath of the Indian Ocean Tsunami two years ago. Last year India extended a hand to provide succour to the victims of the devastating earthquake that hit Indonesia in May 2006. \nThe key challenge for the regional states lies in building effective multilateral institutions based on a set of common values to achieve common goals based on respective political\, economic and strategic interests. The ASEAN Regional Forum (ARF) has emerged as a useful platform for security dialogues involving all regional states. It needs to be appropriately strengthened and reoriented to cater to the dynamics of regional security. Cooperative mechanisms will however\, need to incorporate transparency in intentions and response and a visible respect for the religious and cultural diversities of states. \nTrack II discussions provide a platform for free and frank discussions on all these issues. This is the central aim of the Asian Security Conference organized by the IDSA every year. Pandit Jawaharlal Nehru’s visionary words\, “the only alternative to co-existence is co-destruction” must continue to guide all of us. I am sure that the deliberations over the past two days have been fruitful in providing some answers in this direction and would contribute valuable inputs for policy-making.
URL:https://idsa.in/idsa-event/closing-remarks-at-the-9th-asian-security-conference
CATEGORIES:KEY SPEECHES,Asian Security Conference,ASC Key Speeches,ANNUAL CONFERENCES
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