East Asia Explorer

The East Asia Explorer tracks evolving geopolitical trends, emerging security challenges, and progress towards regional integration in East Asia. It focuses on the ASEAN grouping, domestic and foreign policy developments in countries of East Asia and Oceania, great power contestation in the region, and India’s relations with ASEAN and its member countries. 

In this issue, Dr. Satish Chandra Mishra explores the evolving partnership between India and Indonesia, highlighting their deep historical ties, growing security collaboration and shared vision for a peaceful and technologically advanced Asia. He postulates that the evolution of closer India-Indonesia ties in the last decade, and the strategic call of the future, demands serious and constant policy attention and public acknowledgement.

Jayantika Rao examines Chinese Premier Li Qiang’sthree-day visit to IndonesiaonMay24-26, 2025, reflecting Beijing’s broader strategy of strengthening regional alliances.This diplomatic outreachaligns with policies set out at the Central Conference on Work Related to Neighboring Countries. She concludes that Premier Li’s visit to Indonesia reinforces China’s positioning as a dependable strategic partner amid shifting geopolitical currents.

In her brief on regional connectivity, Divya Raireviews the progress of major connectivity initiatives such as the Kaladan Multi-Modal Transport System (KMMTS) and the India–Myanmar–Thailand Trilateral Highway (IMT-TH). She examines how shifting political winds in Bangladesh are impacting the India-Bangladesh relationship and projects like the India-Bangladesh Protocol Route. She underscores the significance of BIMSTEC, highlighting its key position in advancing both the ‘Act East Policy’ and deeper regional integration for India’s Northeast.

To read this East Asia Explorer, Vol. III, Issue 5, please see the PDF attached.