ABSTRACT
The evolution of the term 'Indo-Pacific' fits very well in the current geo-political reality in which the issues of conflict, peace or cooperation impacting on the various regions of Asia have direct or indirect bearing on each other. The term Indo-Pacific in the geo-political discourse is therefore not seen as an imagination or a fantasy, but a realistic and practical proposition. The implications of the developments on global politics can be anything but significant. Adding genuine ballast to Indo-Pacific relations – bilaterally or multilaterally– is thus a primary challenge. Regionalism in the Indo-Pacific can play an important and useful role in the dynamic and very promising economic space of the region. The region continues to witness large-scale violence as a result of terrorism or religious fundamentalism. Importantly, while there was all-round cooperation among several Indo-Pacific states against piracy to ensure freedom of navigation in the Gulf of Aden, it remains an issue of contention elsewhere in the region.
