Twenty Years Development Of India’s Look East Policy-Review And Prospect

This paper reviewed the twenty years development of LEP (Look East Policy), analyzed the background of LEP concretely, innovatively analyzed the reasons for LEP to be promoted into the second phase, summed up the measures and effects during the two phases. Finally, this paper prospected its future on the base of its great achievement.The change of international structure after the Cold War and the unprecedented economic crisis forced India to adjust the orientation of its foreign policies. To contact with the ASEAN countries was the best choice under that international situation. India has geo-political advantages and the same historic cultural views to establish relations with the ASEAN countries. Meanwhile, ASEAN’s big power balance strategy also depends on India. These factors make the accessibility of LEP. There are several reasons for India to promoted LEP into the second phase. Firstly, the success of the first phase firmed India’s confidence. Secondly, the second generation of economic reform in India forced LEP into a new phase. Thirdly, the security value of East Asia had been accepted by India’s new security concept.The government of India had taken many active diplomatic measures in the first phase. That includes promoting political connections, strengthening economic relations with the ASEAN countries, and developing security cooperation with ASEAN and Asian-Pacific powers. The results exceeded India’s initial expectation. India had not only broken the political limitation in South Asia, started to integrate into the fast economic development of East Asia, but also increased military cooperation with South-east Asian countries. India continued to deepen institutionalized political relations with South-east Asian countries. It also expanded the scope of LEP, established close relations with East Asian and Asian-Pacific countries. On the economic level, India continued to enhance the economic cooperation actively, and started to establish economic relations with East Asian countries. Further more, India urged to establish Asian Economic Community. In addition, India started to strengthen the construction of overland transportation network with ASEAN on the basis of its North-Eastern regions. Maritime security cooperation with East Asian countries, especially ASEAN countries has been put into the content of LEP. The result is the expanding of India’s influence in Asian-Pacific region. In order to enhance India’s soft power, India put cultural diplomacy into LEP in the recent years. The great achievement of LEP exceeded India’s initial expectations. India established regional institutionalized economic and security cooperation successively in East Asian region depending on the platform of ASEAN. An identity of Asian-Pacific country has been accepted by big powers. India’s influence has got out of Indian Ocean region and expanded into Asian-Pacific region.The success of LEP firmed India’s confidence to promote it into a new phase. Its inertial development trend has been formed. Although there are some subjective and objective limits, LEP still has a great development space. The world center is transforming into Asian-Pacific region. LEP supplies an opportunity to India to make the Indian Ocean under its control. So, India will cooperate with this region more and more in political, economic, security aspects. This will help India transform its identity form a big South Asian country to a great Asian-Pacific country, then achieve its dream of being a great world country...