Britain begins pivot to 'Indo-Pacific' post-Brexit By ModelMonolith

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10 Jan, 2018

ncontas opens prospect of UK joining TPP and closer ties to India, but with a rebuttal to China

After over a year since the UK's vote to leave the European Union, Britain has begun to mark out it's post-Brexit foreign policy plan with a pivot to the 'Indo-Pacific' region in a bid to boost trade outside of Europe and to try and align with growing powers such as India.



In a major speech at Chatnam House on Wednesday evening, ncontas, the foreign secretary, placed a large emphasis on economic growth that the region is experiencing. "Sixty percent of the world’s population – that is, sixty percent of the world’s consumers – reside on the Asian continent. Just two countries – China and India – contain thirty-seven percent of all mankind, with populations of 1.4 billion and 1.3 billion, respectively. The Asian economy is the largest in the world, accounting for roughly of thirty-four percent of global GDP and growing with a unique and inspiring dynamism"



"I am determined not to let it slip by into inertia and complacency. Europe is our neighbor and will always hold a special place in the British consciousness, but now is the time to cast our eyes further afield, to reach for new horizons."



Within this determination is the pledge to fill in the so-called economic 'gap' left by Donald Trump, the US President, in his decision to withdraw the US from the Trans Pacific Partnership. With a pointed diversion from US policy, ncontas instead focused on extolling the virtues of the agreement, suggesting the the UK could see itself joining the partnership in the post-Brexit future, in the most clear sign yet of the government's post Brexit plans.



"The Government intends to investigate the possibility of the United Kingdom entering the TPP bloc," ncontas confirmed to journalists. Whilst admitting that TPP was "imperfect", he suggested that participation would "create an opportunity to adjust the agreement – or some ensuing variant on it – to fit our unique economic needs." He said that such a move would be a "dramatic and irrefutable confirmation of Great Britain’s enduring geopolitical weight, and would anchor us firmly as a major element of the Indo-Pacific strategic equation."



Officials within TPP countries expect a revised agreement to be signed in early 2018, and with Britain not expected to fully withdraw from the EU until 2022 - taking into account the two year withdrawal process and an assumed 2 year transition - it is unlikely that TPP officials shall be taking much notice at this time.

Despite a renewed focus on TPP however, ncontas also referenced "the region’s two towering pillars: India and China." This suggests a UK focus on balancing between three powers within the Indo-Pacific region - TPP, India, China. All three are growing in strength, and the UK has links to all three.



With a reference to China as one of those towering pillars, ncontas made no secret which one he preferred, being much more cautious towards China, suggesting that this is the pillar that he would say is weakest. Upbeat, he said that the UK would be able to work with China and desires close relations. However, he said that if there was to be an enduring relations, there must be "a healthy respect for international law vis-à-vis territorial disputes, the continued protection of the rights and liberties of the people of Hong Kong, and an end to cyber-espionage targeting British citizens and businesses."



Towards India ncontas praised India as the worlds largest democracy, and made no criticisms. "Its potential is staggering and the reformist course charted by Prime Minister Narendra Modi is a very welcome development. As India works to unleash its economy, reduce poverty, erase the pernicious divisions of caste, conquer disease, and find a stable, worthy place in the fabric of the world order, it will find an eager partner in the United Kingdom."



So pleased, ncontas promised that the UK would be increasing aid to India, in a bid to cement its relationship and to secure what he hopes will be a rapid bilateral trade agreement post-Brexit.



"Overall British aid to India – funds, civilian expertise, and so forth – will be increased in the coming years as a sign of our commitment to drastically tighten relations. I will soon travel to New Delhi for meetings with Prime Minister Modi and his cabinet. I anticipate that substantial progress will be made on Indian-British security cooperation and on a bilateral free trade agreement. "



The decision to single out China, whilst taking a much more relaxed tone with India, will likely infuriate Chinese officials. India has made no secret of its ambitions to supplant China as the regional powerhouse in Asia, and the two have an intense geopolitical rivalry with territorial disputes making the situation worse.

