| Summary/Abstract |
The expression ‘Indo-Pacific’ is currently being used in three different ways
by the Americans. ‘Indo-Pacific’ is essentially used to mean the eastern Indian
Ocean as well as the Pacific Ocean which is the US Pacific Command’s
(PACOM) area of operation. The ‘Asia-Pacific’, on the other hand, is taken
to mean South-east Asia and East Asia along with the Pacific Ocean which is
also, broadly speaking, the PACOM’s area of responsibility even as it includes
continental landmass and populations which remain an important focus of US
policy of creating a security system in this vast area. ‘Indo-Asia-Pacific’, yet
another phrase, is a mix of the above two expressions which includes the
oceanic waters as well as the East Asian landmass. The use of ‘Indo’ in these
expressions also reflects the US desire to involve India in the maintenance of
the strategic stability in the area mentioned
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