Rukmani Gupta replies: “Free and Open Indo Pacific” was coined as a new foreign policy strategy by Japan in 2017 and which subsequently found favour with the United States (US) as well as regional Asian powers.
As per Japanese policy documents, the “Free and Open Indo-Pacific Strategy” seeks to improve “connectivity” between the Pacific and the Indian Oceans. In pursuit of this, Japan aims to strengthen strategic collaboration with India, the US and Australia.
Understanding Indonesia’s Unease with AUKUS
Given its geo-strategic importance, Indonesia’s cooperation is crucial for success of any regional security framework in the Indo-Pacific. It is therefore important that regional powers pay attention to Indonesia’s concern over Australia’s decision to acquire nuclear-powered submarines under the newly constituted AUKUS, especially in view of the increasing US–China rivalry in the region.