India’s ‘Act East Policy’ has been a significant reorientation in foreign policy towards realizing India’s big power ambitions. During the initial years, the focus of the policy was on economic and diplomatic connectivity that cantered around the ASEAN. Since then, the policy has evolved to assume greater strategic dimensions with co-operation in security matters and incremental engagement with countries and regions beyond the ASEAN that include East Asia and the whole of Asia-Pacific. India’s plans to become a global power depend to a great extent on its becoming a dominant economic actor, political and strategic player and soft power attraction in East Asia and Asia-Pacific. This region is the most vibrant economic arena and crucial strategic site in international politics presently. The changing geopolitical and strategic realities increasingly necessitate a new regional security architecture in the region. Along with its efforts towards economic integration and diplomatic connectivity, India needs to carve out a role in shaping the security structure of the region to deal with issues of maritime disputes and security. This book is a collection of 7 scholarly papers that discuss various aspects and dimensions of India’s Act East Policy. CONTENTS 1. India’s Act East Policy Srikanth Kondapalli 2. Changing Contours of India’s Act East Policy and its Economic Imperatives P.A. Mathew 3. Act East Policy and the Relevance of the QUAD Muraleedharan Nair 4. Strategic Significance of Bay of Bengal and Andaman and Nicobar Islands in India's Act East Policy Commodore R.S. Vasan IN (Retd.) 5. Indian Ocean Region and India’s Act East Policy: Maritime Challenges for India in the 21st Century Aswani R.S. and Mihir Das 6. Australia’s Perception of India’s Act East Policy and its Impact on the Region Sally Burt 7. Japan in India’s Act East Policy: Confluence of Interests and Strategy Anil Kumar P.