The Observer Research Foundation conducted a panel discussion titled, "Narratives of Power: Indo-Pacific vs. Asia-Pacific". The panelists discussed various concerns that terminologies such as Indo-Pacific and Asia-Pacific raise in international politics - Is the term Indo-Pacific a tool of holding back China? Speaking about the role of the United States, the panelists acknowledged that the Indo-Pacific is a region that no country should or could dominate. The discussion suggested that the US doesn't want to dominate the Indo-Pacific, rather, it wants to prevent other countries from dominating it. Following this, Russian concerns on the floor revealed how Russia thinks that Indo-Pacific promotes a narrative of disintegration and division as opposed to Asia-Pacific, which takes China in stride. The discussion concluded with a pertinent question: How must countries negotiate with narratives that are both divisive and constructive?
Moderated By:
Mr. Nandan Unnikrishnan, Distinguished Fellow, ORF.
Panelists:
Mr. Abraham Denmark, Director, Asia Program, Wilson Center, USA.
Prof. Alexander Lomanov, Deputy Director, Primakov National Research Institute of World Economy and International Relations, Russia.
Mr. Sunjoy Joshi, Chairman, Observer Research Foundation.
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