Panel Discussion: The Global Turn to the Indo-Pacific. Perspective from South and Southeast Asia and The Netherlands
On September 24th, the South and Southeast Asia track of Ba International Studies hosted a panel discussion on why the world is directing its attention to the Indo-Pacific. This area, which is of major strategic international importance, is becoming the focus of economic and political policy makers around the world. Especially, the region South and Southeast Asia is becoming crucial to what will happen to the Indo-Pacific in the years to come. Whatever the developments in the Indo-Pacific, they will affect the world at large. This panel discussion aimed to inform a public consisting of specialists, practitioners, and students on the different perspectives regarding this issue from practitioners from India, the Philippines, and the Netherlands.
Mr. Gince Kuruvilla Mattam, Deputy Chief of Mission for the embassy of India explained what the focal points of the Indian policy on the region are. Mr. Jarie Osias, First Secretary and Consul for the embassy of the Philippines, zoomed in on China’s contentious claims in South China Sea. Ms. Sunita Verlinde, Strategic Policy Adviser Indo-Pacific & Indo-Pacific Envoy of the Netherlands Ministry of Foreign Affairs made clear what is at stake for Europe and what the policy of the Netherlands towards this region consists of. Dr. Nicolas Blarel, Associate Professor from the Institute of Political Science, Leiden University, offered an academic perspective on the importance of the Indo-Pacific.
The Ba International Studies South and Southeast Asia track thanks the panellists and moderator, Mr. Richard Ghiasy, Senior Fellow at Leiden Asia Centre, for their contributions. We also extend our gratitude to the audience for their participation and their insightful questions.
