The gathering of East Asia Summit (EAS) holds significant importance in the political, security, and economic landscape of the Indo-Pacific. The association was established in 2005 under the initiative of ASEAN (Association of Southeast Asian Nations). EAS represents an integral forum that assembles all major partners to deliberate on subjects of strategic importance.
Conceptualization and Membership of EAS
The notion of an East Asia Grouping was first brought forth by Mahathir Mohamad, the Malaysian Prime Minister, in 1991. The inaugural summit took place in Kuala Lumpur, Malaysia on 14 December 2005. The EAS currently consists of 18 members: 10 countries from the ASEAN and eight dialogue partners (Australia, China, India, New Zealand, Japan, Republic of Korea, Russia, and the United States).
EAS Meetings and their Processes
The East Asia Summit is typically conducted parallel to the ASEAN Leaders’ meetings which occur in the final quarter of the year. Its Leaders’ Summit is supported by a series of ministerial and senior officials’ meetings. These include the Foreign Ministers’ Meeting, Defence Ministers’ Meeting, Economic Ministers’ Meeting, and the Education Ministers’ Meeting. It’s important to note that the EAS operates based on principles such as openness, inclusiveness, international law respect, ASEAN centrality, and ASEAN’s role as the driving force.
Topics Addressed at the EAS
On the East Asia Summit’s agenda are six key areas of co-operation. These are environment and energy, education, finance, global health issues and pandemic diseases, natural disaster management, and ASEAN connectivity. The EAS also takes into account other topics of mutual interest such as trade and investment, regional architecture, maritime security, non-proliferation, cyber security, and counterterrorism.
India’s Involvement with the East Asia Summit
India has been a key member of the EAS since its establishment in 2005. It has actively engaged in all its meetings and activities. The nation perceives the EAS as an instrumental platform for enhancing its Act East Policy and fortifying its strategic partnership with ASEAN and other regional countries. During the East Asia Summit held in November 2019 in Bangkok, India introduced the Indo-Pacific Oceans Initiative (IPOI) with the aim of forging partnerships to create a secure and stable maritime domain. Furthermore, India has made substantial contributions to the EAS cooperation in various domains such as disaster management, renewable energy, education, health, connectivity, maritime security, and counterterrorism.
The Role of EAS in Addressing Regional Issues
The 13th EAS Foreign Ministers’ Meeting bore significant relevance for India recently as External Affairs Minister had the opportunity to actively engage in discussions with China’s top diplomat. They deliberated on outstanding issues pertaining to the Line of Actual Control (LAC), focusing particularly on the significance of peace and disengagement of troops. By undertaking such dialogues, the role of EAS in addressing regional issues of shared interest becomes evident.
