Ayush Sinha asked: What does India stand to gain by getting membership in APEC?

Jagannath P. Panda replies: India's current perception of the Asia-Pacific is closely linked with the emerging facets of Asia's power politics, which includes economic integration mechanisms and maritime politics. Multiple forums, albeit with converging schema, are shaping the regional power dynamics including the security architecture in the Asia Pacific region where Asia-Pacific Economic Cooperation (APEC) is an important institution. As one of the fastest growing economies in the world, India has reasons to seek entry into APEC. India’s quest for APEC membership may not, therefore, be any more about ‘why’ but perhaps ‘when’.

Getting a membership in APEC will help India in following ways: (a) India will be taken more seriously as an 'economic power' among the Asian and Pacific economies; (b) New Delhi will be more integrated with the global economy since APEC economies constitute an important trading bloc in the world; (c) It will help New Delhi bargain and negotiate a better deal with the Trans-Pacific Partnership (TPP) in future. India is already part of the Regional Comprehensive Economic Partnership (RCEP) negotiating process but not that of the TPP. Besides, APEC membership will legitimise India's standing as an Asia-Pacific power.

For more analysis on the subject, please refer to my following publication:

Jagannath P. Panda, “Beijing’s APEC Call on India: A New Twist in India-China Power Politics?”, Issue Brief, August 05, 2014.

Posted on May 18, 2015