The “China Factor” in the Northeast Component of India’s Act East Policy: Implications for Security, Connectivity, Commerce

Abstract

The Act East Policy of India, earlier known as the Look East Policy, was launched in the early 1990s to reach out to the neighbours of the country to its east and beyond. The policy has also acquired a prominent Northeast India component to it. The Northeast of India – comprising of eight states – Assam, Mizoram, Manipur, Tripura, Meghalaya, Arunachal Pradesh and Sikkim, is presently a landlocked region ensconced, baring a small section, between Bhutan, China, Bangladesh, Myanmar and Nepal. This paper is on the ‘China factor’ in the Act East Policy with special regard to the aspects of this policy covering the Northeast of India. It is argued here that China impacts the Northeast India component of the Act East Policy in various ways and that the aspects of security threats cast a shadow over the implementation and realization of this policy especially those pertaining to sub-regionalism and infrastructure projects. It is also seen that the provincial governments of India in the Northeast are attempting to carve a space for themselves on matters pertaining to neighbouring countries including China. Furthermore, it is noted that China also reacts to India’s actions or inactions in the Northeast under the policy .