Why in the News?

India has launched Operation Sadbhav to assist Myanmar, Laos, and Vietnam, which are reeling from the effects of Typhoon Yagi. The aid includes 10 tonnes of relief materials sent to Myanmar via INS Satpura, 35 tonnes to Vietnam by Indian Air Force aircraft, and 10 tonnes to Laos. This humanitarian effort, aligning with India’s ‘Act East Policy,’ demonstrates its commitment to regional disaster relief and support.

Typhoon Yagi

• It is a type of tropical cyclone.
• In the Western Pacific Ocean, tropical cyclones are called typhoons.
• They are characterized by rotating winds, intense rainfall, and thunderstorms.
• It impacted China, Vietnam, and Laos.
• It reached super typhoon status, one of the highest categories of tropical cyclones.
• Structure
  • Eye: The calm center of the typhoon, often clear and with little wind.
  • Eye Wall: Surrounding the eye, this area has the most intense winds and heavy rain.
  • Rain Bands: Spiraling bands of thunderstorms that extend outward from the eye wall, causing rainfall and high winds.
• Classification
  
  • Category 1: Winds of 119-153 km/h (74-95 mph).
  • Category 2: Winds of 154-177 km/h (96-110 mph).
  • Category 3: Winds of 178-208 km/h (111-129 mph).
  • Category 4: Winds of 209-251 km/h (130-156 mph).
  • Category 5: Winds exceeding 252 km/h (157 mph).

Act East Policy

• It was announced in November 2014 as an upgrade of the “Look East Policy”.
• It is a diplomatic initiative to promote economic, strategic and cultural relations with the vast Asia-Pacific region at different levels.
• Aim: To foster economic cooperation, cultural ties, and strategic relationships with Indo-Pacific countries through a proactive approach, thereby enhancing the economic development of the North-Eastern Region (NER) as a gateway to Southeast Asia.
• It focuses on ASEAN countries + Economic Integration + East Asian countries + Security cooperation.
• 4C's
  
  • Culture
  • Commerce
  • Connectivity
  • Capacity building
• Security is an important dimension -
  • In the context of growing Chinese assertiveness in the South China Sea and the Indian Ocean, securing freedom of navigation and India's own role in the Indian Ocean is a key feature.
  • In pursuance of this, India has been engaged under the narrative of Indo-pacific and informal grouping called Quad.
• Initiatives
  • Agartala-Akhaura Rail Link between India and Bangladesh.
  • Intermodal transport linkages and inland waterways through Bangladesh.
  • Kaladan Multimodal Transit Transport Project and the Trilateral Highway Project connecting the Northeast with Myanmar and Thailand.
  • India-Japan Act East Forum