ABSTRACT
This introductory chapter reviews how the geographical and the geostrategic narrative of the Indo-Pacific is enlarging, from the east coast of Africa to the Indian Ocean and the Pacific Ocean, and is getting more complicated in the process. This is predominantly down to the liberal world nexus where the primary focus is on maritime Asia and on urging China to accommodate the interests of the rest of Asia. Indeed, in an attempt to promote a “new Asian economic and political order”, China has been observed to forward a constructive engagement, calling for cooperation with Asia’s various sub-regions. Most notably, its “pivot” towards Eurasia through the Silk Road Economic Belt (SREB) is one of the highlights of China’s Asia strategy. However, in a US-led liberal world alliance structure, it is important to forge a few unlikely partnerships too. In this regard, India is seen to some extent as a positive and balancing force to China’s evolving Asia policy. A cooperative Sino-Indian partnership is beneficial for both India and China as Asia’s geopolitical space is big enough for their shared leaderships and shared responsibility. India too advocates for a multipolar Asia. It is not only cooperating with China but is also continuing its engagement with the ASEAN countries and other “like-minded” countries under the Quadrilateral consultative forum to balance out China’s outreach.
