ICRIER to host an international conference on ‘Changing Security Dynamic in the Indo-Pacific’ from tomorrow

The East Asia Research Programme at the Indian Council for Research on International Economic Relations (ICRIER) is organizing an international conference titled ‘Changing Security Dynamic in the Indo-Pacific’ on 15th and 16th February 2017 in Hyderabad, India. The venue of the conference is the Main Auditorium, Dr. Marri Channa Reddy Human Resource Development Institute, Road Number 25, Jubilee Hills, Hyderabad, Telangana, 500033. The Conference will witness the participation of senior scholars from countries such as Australia, Japan, Philippines, Singapore, Vietnam, and India.

The Conference will reflect on the power shift in the global politics and its implications for India and its extended neighbourhood. The role of regional organizations (such as the ASEAN and SAARC) in promoting and maintaining peace in the region will be an important theme in the Conference. India has recently announced a shift from ‘Look East’ to ‘Act East Policy’. This shift is marked by expanded engagement of India in the Indo-Pacific region, a more forthright articulation on security issues, and also increased emphasis on cultural engagement. Similarly, Japan has scaled up its engagement with South and Southeast Asia. There is also a need to evaluate the US Policy of Rebalance to Asia, and have a better understanding of the growing presence of China in the Indian Ocean region. In addition, the Conference will also witness substantive discussions on the security developments in the Indian Ocean region, and in the Pacific. Specifically, the deliberations will also reflect on the South China Sea Dispute and the growing cooperative frameworks centred on the Bay of Bengal. The possibilities of expanding cooperation in the realm of Humanitarian Assistance and Disaster Relief (HADR) will also feature in the conversations.

Noted scholars such as Dr. Ronald Huisken (The Australian National University, Canberra, Australia), Prof. Tsutomu Kikuchi (Japan Institute of International Affairs, Tokyo, Japan), Dr. Lowell Bautista (Philippines), Mr. Richard A. Bitzinger (Nanyang Technological University, Singapore), and Dr. Luong Dinh (Diplomatic Academy of Vietnam) will take part in the Conference proceedings. In addition, Dr. Rajat Kathuria (Director & Chief Executive, ICRIER); Shri K Padmanabhaiah, Chairman, Administrative Staff College of India (ASCI); Dr. Jayaprakash Narayan, General Secretary, Foundation for Democratic Reforms; Shri Shakti Sinha (Director, Nehru Memorial Museum & Library, New Delhi); Admiral Arun Prakash (Former Chief of the Naval Staff, Indian Navy); Dr. Mohan Guruswamy, (Chairperson, Centre for Policy Alternatives); Prof. Srikanth Kondapalli, (Jawaharlal Nehru University); Prof. G V C Naidu (Jawaharlal Nehru University); Commodore R. S. Vasan, (Retd.), Regional Director, National Maritime Foundation, Chennai Chapter; Prof. Kousar J. Azam, Professor Emeritus Dept. of Political Science, Osmania University; and Prof. V. Balakista Reddy, Registrar, NALSAR university of Law are some of the Indian scholars participating in the deliberations.