"Act East Policy is as much about regional balancing as it is about economic diplomacy." Analyse this statement in the context of India's engagement with ASEAN amidst shifting power dynamics in the Indo-Pacific.

• PM Modi in latest ASEAN Summit

Act East = Economic Diplomacy

1. Development of India's North East Region

2. Trade integration - with ASEAN Nation

3. Providing Transport / Logistic access to South - east asia

4. Investment from ASEAN → FDI from Singapore

5. Insulating our import dependency → edible oil → Malaysia

Act East = Regional Balancing

1. Balancing Chinese expansion in the region

2. Balancing debt trap with India's developmental diplomacy

3. Balancing US Retreat with our greater engagement with ASEAN

4. Balancing against unilateral actions to ensure free Indo - Pacific region → ASEAN as Buffer against hybrid warfare

5. Balancing India's Security interest in the region (eg) Creating Malaccan Dilemma to keep china in check

6. Balancing participation in Quad and BRICS through ASEAN

Way forward

1. Balancing Trade-Ties

2. Countering chinese Trans-shipment from ASEAN

3. Improve people 2 people connect