Partnering Together for a Secure Maritime Future

Vijay Sakhuja and Raghavendra Mishra

The 21st Century world order can be categorised as one of strategic flux and uncertainty with strong globalisation impulses and a seamless informational domain. One also witnesses the extant and rising powers announcing grand strategic outreaches, that either aim to retain their relative influence or seek more manoeuvring space in line with the expanding geography of their global linkages. Within this milieu, the ‘maritime domain’ is finding increasing references in respective national calculus and strategic postures that carry a strong oceanic flavour. While the ‘hard’ and ‘soft’ facets of maritime forces naturally coexist, it is the ‘low politics’ associated with the seas that is finding greater space in contemporary narrative. This book, a compilation of papers and presentations made during the two-day conference at the International Fleet Review (IFR) 2016 hosted by the Indian Navy, examines the diverse perspectives on the larger theme of enhanced cooperative endeavours at sea.

Editors
Dr Vijay Sakhuja is Director, National Maritime Foundation (NMF). He is also a visiting Senior Fellow at the Institute of Southeast Asian Studies (ISEAS), Singapore and before joining NMF, he was Director (Research) at the Indian Council of World Affairs (ICWA), New Delhi. Captain Raghavendra Mishra, Research Fellow at the National Maritime Foundation is a serving naval aircrew and an Anti-Submarine Warfare specialist. He is currently pursuing his doctoral studies from Jawaharlal Nehru University.

Contents
Address by Shri Narendra Modi, Hon’ble Prime Minister of India, at the International Fleet Review
Keynote Address by Shri Manohar Parrikar, Hon’ble Raksha Mantri at the International Maritime Conference
Message from, Admiral RK Dhowan PVSM, AVSM, YSM, ADC Chief of the Naval Staff, Indian Navy
Foreword
Abbreviations
Contributors
Introduction

Section I:Importance of Oceans and Navies in the Global Geostrategic Matrix
1. No Way But the “Hi” Way
Anup Singh
2. Importance of Ocean and Navies in the Global Geostrategic Matrix
Dan ‘Fig’ Leaf
3. South China Sea Disputes: Perceptions and Misperceptions among the Players
Ye Hailin
4. Maritime Security and Navies: Future Challenges in the Indian Ocean
Antoine Beaussant
5. Towards A New Maritime Strategy for Medium Powers: Defining the Challenges for the Medium Power Navy
James Goldrick
6. Maritime Cooperation and Building Bridges between Maritime Neighbours and Partners
Renfrew Christie

Section II: Regional Perceptions and Approaches for Maritime Cooperative Engagements
7. Japan’s Security Role in the Indo-Pacific Region
Eiichi Katahara
8. Globalisation, International Liberalism and the Maritime Cooperation Nexus
K. Raja Menon
9. Cooperative Maritime Engagement in the Indo-Pacific Region
Geoffrey Till
10. The Indonesian Approach and Perspective on Asia’s Regional Maritime Cooperative Engagements Amarulla Octavian
11. Building Partnerships in the Bay of Bengal: Opportunities and Challenges
Ataur Rahman
12. A Tour de Horizon
Satish Soni