International Relations Class 10

 International Relations Class 10

Regional Comprehensive Economic Partnership (RCEP)(5:06 PM):

• It is a framework for a free trade agreement between ASEAN and the nations it has FTAs with-China, Japan, South Korea, Australia, and New Zealand.
• India chose to opt out of RCEP in November 2019.

India was a part of the negotiation but withdrew at the last movement due to the following concerns:

I. Trade Deficit:

• India would have had a trade deficit with 11 out of the other 15 members.
• Almost 50% of the Indian trade deficit was to be with China, which is also a member of RCEP.
• India expected that the Indian trade deficit would widen further.

II. Tiered Tariff Liberation Policy:

• India was expected to reduce tariffs for all members of RCEP equally.
• India demanded to have a three-tiered tariff liberation policy under which India would lower tariffs in different manners for different members.

• Reduction in Tariffs (projected)	RCEP members
  80%	ASEAN,
  74%	Japan, South Korea
  0 (As India has no FTA with them)	Australia, New Zealand, China

• This demand was rejected by other countries.

III. Stricter Rules of Origin:

• Rules of origin meant that the free trade agreement must only benefit the signatory nation, and not for any other nation.
• Like if India has an FTA with Uzbekistan, Chinese goods must not enter India through Uzbekistan. 
• India had preferred requiring a value addition of more than 25% for an export to be counted as having originated from a particular country.
• This demand was rejected by other countries.

IV. Automatic Trigger Safeguard Mechanism:

• India wanted to protect its domestic industries from surges/increases in cheap imports.
• India wanted a mechanism that would automatically snap back safeguard duties on imports if imports caused a mutually agreed threshold.
• This demand was rejected by other countries.

V. Nature of Indian Exports:

• NITI Aayog also believes that regional FTAs have benefitted other countries more than India and the Indian trade deficit has increased.
• Under the present government, India has signed FTA only with UAE as UAE agreed with all Indian conditions.
• The Indian manufacturing sector is also underdeveloped.
• As per a NITI Aayog report, Indian goods exports are more income-sensitive than price-sensitive.
• It means that even if Indian exports are made cheaper due to removing duties, their demands do not increase.
• Indian exports could see higher demand only if the income of destination countries increases.
• So, on its own, tariff reduction by RCEP member countries would not necessarily boost exports of Indian goods.

VI. Trade in Investments & Intellectual Property Rights:

• India objected to the inclusion of the Investor-State Dispute Settlement Mechanism.
• The mechanism would allow MNCs abroad to challenge Indian domestic laws.
• Vis-a-vis, trade in intellectual property:
• (A) RCEP countries demanded the inclusion of provisions for data exclusivity.
• Data exclusivity refers to the protection of the clinical trial data required to prove the efficacy of a new drug.
• (B) Patent Term Extension which would compensate for delays in processing a patent application.
• It would also expand the patent period to more than 20 years.
• Both (A) & (B) would have hurt the Indian generic drug manufacturing industry.

ASEAN Defence Minister's Meeting +:

• IT consists of ASEAN and its eight Dialogue Partners Australia, China, India, Japan, New Zealand, the Republic of Korea, Russia, and the United States.
• The aim is to strengthen security and defense cooperation for peace, stability, and development 

Correction from Internation Relations Class 9 held on 24th August India has now achieved FTA with ASEAN in Goods & Services only and not in Investments.

Challenges in India- ASEAN relations:

• Indian regional economic profile is no match to countries say China and the USA.
• India faces an adverse balance of trade.
• Delay in completion of infrastructure projects to strengthen Indian connectivity like the India-Myanmar-Trilateral highway (Moreh Manipur to Mae Sot Thailand).
• 
• The project was to be completed in 2019, and now it is 70% complete.
• The Kaladan MultiModal Cargo Transport Project has also been delayed.
• It was to connect  Koklata Port & Sittwe Port( Rakhine Myanmar).
• Sittwe Port was to be connected to be connected to Paletwa through the Kaladan River.
• Paletwa was then to be connected with Zorin Pui Mizoram.
• 

INDIA PRIVILEGES BILATERAL RELATIONS OVER MULTILATERAL RELATIONS (6:00 PM):

• For example,- India- Myanmar relations, India-Vietnam relations, etc. have received a lot of relations from the government compared to India-ASEAN relations.
• India seeks Summit-Level partnerships or Strategic partnerships at the multilateral level because of the associated "Global Power" status.
• Not all Southeast Asian countries are comfortable with the concept of Indo-Pacific.
• They are worried that they would be forced to choose sides between China on the one hand and India& USA on the other hand.
• This is so because the smaller ASEAN countries have their economies deeply entrenched with the Chinese economy.
• Such is their Chinese dependence that they cannot turn away from China.

Way Forward:

• Increase in trade & investment in the region.
• ASEAN represents a large market for the IT sector in which Chinese digital giants are trying to emerge as important players.
• India has expertise in this sector and should try to increase its presence in ASEAN countries.
• Increase the competitiveness of India'a manufacturing sector.
• Timely completion of infrastructure projects.
• Using India's soft power to Chinese hard power-Hindu & Buddhist connect can boost people-people ties.

Look East/Act East Policy:

• The Look East Policy was launched in 1992 under PV Narasimha Rao for economic cooperation with South East Asia.
• Under Atal Bihari Vajpayee,  East Asian countries like Japan and South Korea were included.
• Also, the domestic dimension was included- Look east through the North East.
• Under Manmohan Singh- Asia-Pacific- Pacific islands like Fiji.
• Narendra Modi 2014- Indo-Pacific- Indian Ocean + Pacific Ocean.
• The Act East vision was launched during the India-ASEAN summit in Myanmar in 2014
• Three C's: Commerce, Culture, and Connectivity were highlighted.
• Look East and Act East policies are two sides of the same coin.
• Act East also includes the promotion of economic, and cultural ties and developing strategic ties with countries of the region.
• The connectivity of the NorthEast states of India with neighboring countries is a major part.

Major Components of Act East Policy/Sectors of Cooperation:

• Emphasis is laid on the 3 C's-  Commerce, Culture, and Connectivity.
• Assertive Maritime Diplomacy is the distinguishing feature of the Act East Policy, like acting as a Net Security Provider of the region.
• Domestic dimension - Look east through North-East- bolstering connectivity of northeast India with ASEAN countries.

INDIA-MYANMAR RELATIONS (6:30 PM):

• 

Importance of Myanmar:

• I. North-East Security:
• Myanmar is critical to fighting insurgency in India's northeast because the India-Mynamar border is largely un-fenced.
• Only a 6.6 km border in Manipur is fenced.
• The main reason for un-fenced borders is the presence of dense forests.
• Villages and even one house have been divided between India and Myanmar.
• Myanmar is the source of the Frontier Dilemma for India, as insurgents can strike in India and seek refuge in Myanmar.
• India and Myanmar since 2018 have Free Movement Regimes:
• People from both sides can travel up to 16 km across the border and can reside for 14 days without a Visa.
• It was suspended in 2022 over concerns over trafficking and drug smuggling.
• Close ethnic ties- Mizos of Mizoram, and the Chin people of the Chin state of Myanmar, are both considered Ho people.
• Also, Nagas are present on both sides. 
• With respect to the northeastern region, it has the shortest route to the sea through Myanmar, and not through Bangladesh.
• The government blamed the large-scale migration of Chin people for the ethnic violence in Manipur.

II. South East Asian Connectivity:

• Myanmar is an Indian land bridge to South-East Asia.
• So India has focussed on improving connectivity like the India-Myanmar Thailand trilateral highway, Kaladan project, etc.

III. Countering China's Necklace of Pearls policy:

• India has built the Sittwe port to counter the Chinese Kyaukphyu port, both lying in the Rakhine state.
• Indian initiatives like the Sairang (near Aizawl)-  Hmawngbuchhuah(Mizoram, near the Myanmar border railway line to counter Chinese railway influence through CMEC.

IV. India's South & South East Asian regional cooperation:

• Myanmar is critical for initiatives like BIMSTEC.

MYANMAR POLITICAL DEVELOPMENT TIMELINE (7:00 PM):

• Myanmar gained independence in January 1948 from British rule, and democracy was established.
• Military Coup happened in 1962, and Junta rule was established under the military (Tatmadaw).
• It led to the international isolation of Myanmar as very few nations recognized the military government.
•  Junta's rule saw economic mismanagement, rising inequality, the poor performance in the agricultural sector.

1988 uprising:

• In 1998, there was a democratic uprising in Myanmar.
• It was marked by gross economic management and political oppression.
• It led to the conduction of the first free and fair election in 1990.
• In the elections, the National League of Democracy led by Aung San Suu Kyi won a clear majority.
• However, the military did not recognize the result of the election and did not cede power.
• Aung San Suu Kyi was put under house arrest.

In 2008:

• The military sought to establish Discipline Flourishing Democracy through a referendum.
• A new constitution was established.
• Certain parliamentary seats and ministerial positions were reserved for Tatmadaw.
• Also, the name of Myanmar was changed from the Union of Myanmar to the Republic of the Union of Myanmar.

In 2010:

• The military-backed USDP- Union Solidarity and Development Party came to power.
• A substantive number of seats in both houses were reserved for the military, and most political offices were still occupied by the military.
• NLD had not participated in the elections.

2015 elections:

• NLD won the elections with an absolute majority in both houses.
• Aung San Suu Kyi became the State Counselor of Myanmar.

November 2020:

• Second, openly contested general elections after 1990, and NLD again won an absolute majority.
• USDP performed poorly than it did in 2015.
• Tatmadaw felt that the new strong-majority government could overturn the 2008 changes and remove the military from the administration.
• On 1st February 2021, the new parliament was supposed to meet, and a military coup happened.
• Therefore, the democratic experiment in Myanmar was short-lived, only for a decade.

Phases of India-Myanmar relations:

• 1948- 1962-
• It saw a phase of good relations.
• The Treaty of Friendship was signed in 1951.
• Myanmar was an active participant in the India–led Non-Alignment Movement.

1962-1988-

• After the coup, the Junta government did not stand by India against China in 1962.
• The next two decades saw stagnancy, bordering on the margins of cordiality.
• Also, India followed the world and did not recognize the Junta regime, thinking that it might be a blow to global democratic values.

1988-2010-

• Non-recognition of the 1988 elections by Myanmar drew a sharp reaction from India.
• Later in 1998, under Atal Bihari Vajpayee, after the efforts of Minister of External Affairs Jaswant Singh, India shifted from idealism to realism with respect to Myanmar.
• India tried to establish relations with whosoever worked in Indian interests.
• India was an ardent supporter of Myanmar’s entry into ASEAN.

2010-1st February 2021:

• The phase saw dual power centers in Myanmar- elected civilian leadership and the military.
• Relations started getting better as democratization started.
• Many infrastructure projects like gas pipelines and highways were announced.
• India was able to pursue relations with two heads of Military and Political leadership.
• This is regarded as the best phase in India-Myanmar relations from an Indian perspective.

Best Phase:

• There was international support for engaging with civilian leadership.
• India was also able to secure its security interests in the northeast through cooperation with Myanmar's military.
• India has undertaken joint military operations with Tatmadaw to tackle insurgency in the Northeast.
• The operations were code-named Sunshine I & Sunshine II.

INDIAN RESPONSE TO THE 2021 MILITARY TAKEOVER (7:30 PM):

• India in 1990 was outrightly critical, but the latest response has been muted.
• India only condemned the violence that followed and not the Tatmadaw directly.
• Nor did India try to reinforce the legitimacy of the elections.
• India only expressed “deep concerns over the events of 1st February 2021”.

Reasons for such a response:

• Military Cooperation:
• Over decades, India and Myanmar militaries have built close ties.
• It has resulted in a substantive decline in Insurgency in North East.

Democratic NLD Rule:

• Contrary to general expressions, the NLD rule in Myanmar was relatively pro-China.
• Since Suu Kyi wanted to end the several civil wars in Myanmar, she was forced to reach out to Beijing.
• China enjoys leverage (arms, training, funds) over rebel groups in Myanmar.

Myanmar Civil War History: Even under British rule, the rule was only over the central regions of Myanmar called Burma region. The border areas, called Frontier regions were inhabited by ethnic minorities, around 135 in number. Ethnic minorities were given autonomy by the British. They did not want to integrate with Burma after independence. They joined Myanmar under the Panglong Agreement after being persuaded by Aung San, the father of Suu Kyi. These groups were promised autonomy. Frontier regions are resource-rich and the native people feel that their resources are being exploited to benefit the Burma region. There are many armed groups in the region which had been in conflict with Tatmadaw. Suu Kyi wanted to end these civil wars, hence she tilted more toward China. China could afford to build relations with the rebel groups, civilian government, and the military because of its deep pockets. Also, Myanmar was in dire need of funds as it was struggling under sanctions. Myanmar’s natural resources (oil, natural gas, timber, gems) make it important to China. India does not have good experience in trying to balance different power centers in a foreign country. Indian efforts to engage with the King, Prime Minister Ranas, and democratic groups in Nepal decreased trust in India among all of them.

Connectivity:

• With respect to the northeastern region, it has the shortest route to the sea through Myanmar, and not through Bangladesh.
• India has ongoing connectivity projects such as the trilateral highway, kaladan project, etc.
• ONGC has also made investments in Myanmar.
• Given the geo-strategic and geo-economic importance of Myanmar, India cannot alienate those in power in Myanmar.
• Indian national interest dictates that India must engage with whoever is in power in Myanmar.
• If India were to replicate the stringent economic sanctions and criticism of Tatmadaw, Myanmar could get further on the Chinese axis.

Global reaction over the 2021 coup:

USA & Allies:

• Tatmadaw has been presented as power power-hungry and repressive army.
• They have presented resolutions against the Junta government and imposed sanctions on it.

China & Russia:

• They have abstained from replicating the Western response.
• They abstained from voting against resolutions brought by the West and if need be, they have vetoed such resolutions.
• China has extensive economic and strategic interests in China, so it wants to use Western sanctions as an opportunity to forge closer ties with Myanmar.
• Similarly, Russia facing Western sanctions wants close relations with Myanmar.
• It can emerge as an important market for Russian arms exports, etc.

India & Japan:

• They emphasized quiet diplomacy and politically negotiated solutions to the current crisis.

ASEAN:

• ASEAN finds itself divided in dealing with the recent military coup.
• Malaysia, Singapore & Indonesia are against the Junta regime.
• Thailand & Laos are pro-military.
• Vietnam & Philippines are indifferent.
• ASEAN has put forth a five-point consensus plan to overcome the Myanmar Crisis.
• India supports this plan.

The topics for the next class are challenges in India-Myanmar relations & India-Japan relations.

1)

With which of the following countries, India shares its maritime boundary?
1. Myanmar
2. Bangladesh
3. Thailand
4. Indonesia
Select the current answer using the code given below.

(a)1, 2 and 3 only

(b)1, 3 and 4 only

(c)1 and 4 only

(d)All of the above

---

2)

Which of the following states share borders with Myanmar:

1. Arunachal Pradesh,
2. Nagaland,
3. Manipur
4. Meghalaya 
5. Mizoram.

(a)1,2,3,4 only

(b)1,2,3,5 only

(c)2,3,4,5 only

(d)1,2,3,4,and 5 

---

3)

Which of the following are correctly matched?

Boundary	Nations
1. Durand line	India and Afghanistan
2. Mcmahon Line	India and China
3. Palk strait	India and Maldives.
4. Radcliffe line	India and Myanmar

(a)1 and 2 only

(b)2 and 3 only

(c)1,2 and 4 only

(d)1,2,3 and 4

---

4)

With respect to the "Free movement regime", which of the following statements is/are correct?

1. It was signed between Myanmar and Bangladesh.
2. Under it, people on both sides of the border can move into the other country up to 16 km and stay there for 14 days without any visa.

(a)1 only

(b)2 only

(c)Both 1 and 2

(d)Neither 1 nor 2

---

5)

India has an open border policy with which of the following countries?

1. Nepal

2. Pakistan

3. Sri Lanka

4. Bhutan

5. Myanmar

Choose the correct code from below

(a)1, 2, and 4 only

(b)1, and 4 only

(c)1, 2, and 5 only

(d)1, 4, and 5 only

---

6)

Which of the folloiwng is the best description of Sunshine I & Sunshine II in the context of India-Myanmar relations ?

(a)Sea-Port development projects in Myanmar.

(b)Joint military operations against insurgents.

(c)Rohingya refugee camps in Myanmar.

(d)Border Checkposts under the Free Movement regime  between India and Myanmar

---

7)

Consider the following agreement/projects.

1. BBIN Motor Vehicle Agreement.

2. Kaladan Multimodal Project.

3. Hmawngbuchhuah-Sairang rail project.

How many of the above projects are aimed at improving connectivity with Myanmar?

(a)Only one

(b)Only two

(c)All the three

(d)None of the three

---

8)

Consider the following statements about the Panglong Agreement:

1. It was signed between the Burmese government and Britain at the time of Burmese independence.
2. It was negotiated by Aung San Suu Kyi.
3. It guaranteed the independence of a united Myanmar

Choose the correct answer from the codes given below

(a)Only one statement is correct

(b)Only two statements are correct

(c)All the three statements are correct

(d)None of the three statements is correct

---

9)

"India walks a tightrope on Myanmar". Elaborate with reference to The recent Myanmar coup and associated Indian concerns. (150 words/ 10 marks)

---

10)

India gave different reactions to coup in Myanmar in 1987 and 2021. Elaborate the reasons behind this. (150 words/10 marks)

---

11)

What were the Indian considerations that led India to move out of the RCEP deal ?(150 words/10 marks)

---

12)

What is Act East Policy? How is it different from Look East Policy?(150 words/10 Marks)

---

13)

What were the reasons that democratic governement in Myanmar was more pro-china than pro-India ? How could China achieve bi-partisan support in Myanmar while India cannot ? (150 words/10 marks)

Answers
1) d
2) b
3) a
4) b
5) b
6) b
7) b
8) a

Q1.

What are the constraints in the India-ASEAN relationship? What are the steps taken by India? Suggest a way forward in the context of India-ASEAN relations. (150 words/10 Marks)

(10 marks)