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Prof Peter Reeves speaks of the challenge of "distributive
economic justice" in Asia, and draws attention to the,
"challenge of poverty and its alleviation, especially in
areas where the maintenance of peace and security prove
difficult to ensure". Kripa Sridharan highlights the
growing convergence of views between Singapore and India, when
she points out that the appreciable military to military
cooperation between the USA and India has helped the latter in
evolving a view (shared by Singapore), that the US presence in
South-east Asia is not such a strategic calamity after all, and
is in many ways beneficial to all concerned. Amit Mitra laments
India’s laxity in the matter of setting up of the Special
Economic Zones. He points out, "Singapore builds Special
Economic Zones all over the world including China. Why not
India?" Sanjaya Baru’s analysis is accurate when he says,
"The twenty-first century will see the emergence of a
multipolar global system in which the United States, European
Union, China, Russia, Japan, ASEAN and India will emerge as key
elements in the world economic and political system."
Retired Air Commodore Jasjit Singh traces the link between
narcotics and terrorism, and maintains that both India and
Singapore need to strengthen their defences. He reiterates his
stand on the all-pervasive hold of air power in modern wars, a
viewpoint that many will not share. The world over, whether in a
nuclear or conventional war, the fight for land and territory is
still the preserve of the army, and it is always the soldier on
the ground who finally wins a war.
There are others
like Bilveer Singh from Singapore, who speaking of the hold of
the Chinese majority in the country writes, "Singapore is
effectively a ‘Chinese island’ in a ‘Malaya Sea’."
Paramjit Sahai while advocating the strengthening of cultural
diplomacy on a Track 1 or Track 2 front, has suggested the need
"to take the experts to the field, where they can interact
with students and other bodies". S.D. Muni of JNU writes
that there are no basic differences between India and Singapore,
and looks forward to "enhanced economic cooperation between
the two countries". Vineeta Sinha has lauded Singapore
which has, "scored yet another first in being steadfast and
unyielding in handling ‘divisive’ religious elements in
society". Yong Mun Cheong, Faizal Bin Yahya and Syed Farid
Altas have covered the Indian Ocean, India-Singapore trade and
the future of human sciences in Asia, respectively, in an
innovative and objective manner.
The new forces
coming up in ‘emerging Asia’ as Prof Reeves puts it, call
for taking a new look at the bilateral relations between
Singapore and India. N. N. Vohra has done a commendable job in
providing a forum for debate and consensus for both countries to
come closer to each other. A useful book for your shelf.
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goes to the credit of the Indian foreign policy makers that in
concentrating more on India’s neighbours while formulating
policies on bilateral and other issues, not only have the two
nations concerned benefited, but the whole of the Asian continent
has also stood to gain. With the break-up of the Soviet Union, the
end of the Cold War, the advent of a unipolar world, and the recent
economic resurgence of India, it is time again for mutually
beneficial economic relations in Asia. Leading academicians and
those well-versed with the region have discussed a wide range of
social, cultural, economic, strategic and political equations that
manifest themselves in this heavily populated continent. This book
concentrates, in particular, on India’s relationship with
Singapore which has led to a mutually beneficial bond between India
and the world’s only city state.
