India and Korea seen as future energy security partners

WASHINGTON: Given the need to access Persian Gulf oil and gas supplies to fulfill their galloping energy needs, countries such as India and Korea, along with other energy-deficient states like Japan and China, could either opt for cooperation or competition.According to a research study by Dr Walter Andersen of the School of Advanced International Studies at the Johns Hopkins University, sea lane security will be at issue, both through the Indian Ocean, its choke points and on through to the South China Sea. There are presently very few effective multilateral arrangements that address the security issues of the sea lanes and choke points of the Indian Ocean and the South China Sea. There are few multilateral institutions in Asia, and those that do exist, like SAARC, ASEAN, APEC - which denied membership to India in the 1990s - have a rather thin record of achievement – especially misuse involving security. Partly, this is due to regional antagonism – such as between Japan and China or India and Pakistan. Most consequential agreements address issues of trade and are bilateral. Yet, to be effective, the protection of vital sea lanes that carry vital oil/gas to energy deficient South and East Asia must be a multilateral engagement. Andersen writes that so far, there is very little cooperation. However, concerned states, including Korea, are discussing ways to collaborate.

Source: Daily Times