With reference to “Look East Policy” of India, consider the following statements : 1. India wants to establish itself as an important regional player in the East Asian affairs. 2. India wants to plug the vacuum created by the termination of Cold war. 3. India wants to restore the historical and cultural ties with its neighbors in Southeast and East Asia. Which of the statements given above is/ correct?

India's 'Look East Policy' (LEP), launched in 1991, was a strategic shift to re-engage with Southeast and East Asia following the Cold War's end [4]. Statement 1 is correct as the policy aimed to expand Indian influence and establish India as a significant regional player in East Asian affairs [3]. Statement 3 is also correct; the policy emphasized restoring age-old cultural, historical, and ideological connections that had been 'frozen' during the Cold War years [6]. Statement 2 is incorrect because the end of the Cold War did not create a 'vacuum' for India to fill; rather, the collapse of the Soviet Union and the loss of a major strategic partner forced India to rethink its foreign policy and seek new economic and strategic partners to avoid isolation [5]. Therefore, the policy was a response to a changing international order rather than an attempt to fill a power vacuum.

Sources

1. [2] Rajiv Ahir. A Brief History of Modern India (2019 ed.). SPECTRUM. > Chapter 39: After Nehru... > Foreign Relations > p. 794
2. [4] Geography of India ,Majid Husain, (McGrawHill 9th ed.) > Chapter 16: India–Political Aspects > INDIA'S ROLE IN WORLD AFFAIRS > p. 58
3. [3] Rajiv Ahir. A Brief History of Modern India (2019 ed.). SPECTRUM. > Chapter 39: After Nehru... > Foreign Policy > p. 745
4. [6] http://ethesisarchive.library.tu.ac.th/thesis/2015/TU_2015_5503120072_3058_1649.pdf
5. [5] https://dngc.ac.in/journals/index.php/dngcrj/article/download/174/103/203