PM Modi’s visit to Brunei underscores India’s growing strategic interest in the region and its commitment to ensuring a free and open Indo-Pacific.
The tiny yet strategically located nation of Brunei Darussalam plays a crucial role in the geopolitical landscape, particularly in the context of the South China Sea and Indo-Pacific region. Situated on the northern coast of Borneo, Brunei shares its maritime borders with Malaysia and has a modest coastline along the contentious South China Sea, an area of significant global interest due to its abundant natural resources and strategic maritime routes. Brunei’s territorial claim over parts of the South China Sea, like other claimants, the Philippines, and Vietnam, is pivotal, given the growing tension in the region.
The recent visit of Prime Minister Narendra Modi to Brunei coincides with a period of heightened tensions in the South China Sea, largely driven by China’s assertive claims over the majority of the territory. China’s activities in the region have been viewed as increasingly belligerent, with the continuous military build-ups and the establishment of artificial islands serving as its military bases. Brunei, like several other Southeast Asian nations, finds itself in a delicate position, balancing its relations with China, while safeguarding its sovereignty and territorial integrity. This insecurity is exacerbated by some ASEAN members shying away from taking a unified stance against China due to their growing economic ties with Beijing.
In this context, PM Modi’s visit takes on added importance, as it underscores India’s growing strategic interest in the region and its commitment to ensuring a free and open Indo-Pacific.
IMPORTANCE OF SOUTH CHINA SEA
.The South China Sea, since it’s located to the south of China, has led China to assert itself as the dominant claimant in the region. Over the past two decades, the area has become a strategic fulcrum as China’s growing claims increasingly overshadow those of smaller nations, often using controversial methods like fictitious maps and the “Nine-Dash Line.”
The South China Sea is one of the world’s most crucial waterways, with a significant portion of global trade passing through it. The region is also rich in natural resources, particularly oil and gas reserves, making it a vital interest for all surrounding nations. China’s sweeping territorial claims, encapsulated in the “nine-dash line,” encompass nearly the entire sea, infringing on the claims of Brunei, the Philippines, Vietnam, Malaysia, Taiwan and Indonesia. While Brunei has historically taken a low-key approach to its territorial disputes, the strategic importance of its maritime claim cannot be overlooked.
Brunei’s maritime territory holds significant potential for the nation’s economic future, especially with untapped energy resources in its waters. As a smaller nation with limited military capabilities, Brunei often relies on diplomacy and multilateral organizations, like the Association of Southeast Asian Nations (ASEAN), to manage its disputes. However, the growing militarization of the South China Sea by China, combined with its increasingly assertive foreign policy, has raised concerns throughout the region, including in Brunei. As a result, Brunei has begun to seek stronger partnerships with larger powers like India, which can offer a counterbalance to China’s influence in the region.
INDIA’S ROLE IN INDO-PACIFIC
India’s engagement in the Indo-Pacific region has become a cornerstone of its foreign policy in recent years, particularly under Prime Minister Modi’s leadership. India’s strategic interests in the Indo-Pacific are driven by its desire to ensure freedom of navigation, maintain peace and stability, and promote economic cooperation. The South China Sea, as a critical maritime corridor, is central to India’s broader Indo-Pacific strategy, and Brunei’s location makes it a key player in this region.
India and Brunei have shared cordial relations for decades, with a focus on economic, cultural, and educational exchanges. However, PM Modi’s visit to Brunei signifies a deeper strategic alignment between the two countries, especially in the context of the Indo-Pacific. As China’s influence grows in the region, countries like Brunei are seeking to diversify their international partnerships, and India is a natural partner given its democratic values, its policy of non-interference, and its emphasis on a rules-based international order.
PM Modi’s visit also highlights India’s commitment to ASEAN centrality, a key aspect of its Indo-Pacific policy. Brunei, as a member of ASEAN, plays an important role in shaping the organization’s approach to regional issues, including the South China Sea dispute. Strengthening ties with Brunei thus allows India to engage more effectively with ASEAN as a whole and to advocate for a collective approach to dealing with China’s maritime ambitions.
BILATERAL TIES BETWEEN INDIA AND BRUNEI
India and Brunei enjoy strong bilateral relations that have grown significantly over the years. Economic cooperation is at the heart of the relationship, with trade between the two countries focused on energy, as Brunei is a key supplier of crude oil and natural gas to India. Additionally, there have been numerous cultural and educational exchanges, further strengthening the people-to-people ties between the two nations.
For the past 29 years, significant efforts have been made to promote Indonesia’s culture and traditions in India through various workshops, seminars, and publications. Similarly, India’s outreach to Brunei can be seen as part of a broader effort to deepen ties with Southeast Asian nations, particularly in the context of its Act East policy. This policy, which aims to enhance India’s engagement with the Asia-Pacific region, aligns closely with Brunei’s strategic interests in balancing relations with major powers like China, the United States, and India.
In recent years, there have also been discussions about expanding defence cooperation between India and Brunei. Given Brunei’s strategic location and its territorial claims in the South China Sea, enhanced military cooperation could serve as a deterrent to aggressive actions by other regional powers. India’s growing naval presence in the Indo-Pacific, coupled with its focus on maritime security, makes it an attractive partner for Brunei as it seeks to safeguard its territorial waters.
Prime Minister Modi’s visit to Brunei marks a significant moment in the evolving geopolitical landscape of the Indo-Pacific. As China continues its assertive activities in the South China Sea, nations like Brunei are looking to strengthen their ties with other regional powers to ensure their sovereignty and territorial integrity. India’s role in the region, as a proponent of a free and open Indo-Pacific, positions it as a crucial partner for Brunei.
The visit also highlights the importance of strengthening bilateral ties between India and Brunei, particularly in the areas of economic cooperation, cultural exchange, space technology and defence. As both countries navigate the challenges posed by an increasingly belligerent China, their partnership will be crucial in promoting peace, stability, and a rules-based order in the Indo-Pacific.
In the broader context of the South China Sea and Indo-Pacific, Brunei’s potential role in shaping regional politics should not be underestimated. With India’s support, Brunei can play a more active role in advocating for a peaceful resolution to territorial disputes and ensuring that the region remains open and secure for all.
Dr Gautam Kumar Jha is Assistant Professor, Centre for Chinese & Southeast Asian Studies, JNU, New Delhi; Visiting Professor, State University Yogyakarta (UNY), Indonesia; Visiting Faculty, IGNCA, New Delhi.