Being the region that has vital status on the political map, Indo - Pacific has been an area chosen to implement many strategies by a host of nations around the world, especially great powers. Having a role as a global great power, the United States has pivotal strategies to remain its influence and connect to this region. After withdrawing from the Trans-Pacific Partnership (TPP) in 2017, in May 2022, Washington proposed the Indo - Pacific Economic Framework for Prosperity (IPEF) and received participation in discussion from many countries, including Vietnam. Thus, what is IPEF? Let’s find out some events related to IPEF in today’s post with DAVMUN!

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1. The first mention of the Indo-Pacific Economic Framework (IPEF) by President Joe Biden in the East Asia Summit

     President Joseph R. Biden, Jr. virtually participated at the annual East Asia Summit (EAS) on October 27 to discuss regional and international challenges. President Biden reiterated the United States' unwavering commitment to the Indo-Pacific region during this conference and outlined his vision for the area, which included trade facilitation, standards for the digital economy and technology, supply chain resiliency, decarbonization and clean energy, infrastructure, and worker standards. Additionally, President Biden stated that the United States will examine the creation of an Indo-Pacific Economic Framework (IPEF) with allies based on specific potential for regions of mutual interest.

Source: The White House (2021, October 27). Readout of President Biden’s participation in the East Asia summit. 

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2. The U.S. ambassador to Japan mentioned the aims of the U.S for the IPEF in an interview about the new Indo - Pacific economic order.

     On the 17th of May, 2022, the US Ambassador to Japan Rahm Emanuel had an interview with journalists of The Sankei Shimbun and JAPAN Forward, about the new Indo-Pacific economic order and the Indo-Pacific Economic Framework for Prosperity (IPEF). In the interview, Ambassador Rahm Emanuel referred to the aims of the US for the IPEF, the relation between the IPEF and the Quad (Quadrilateral Security Dialogue), and differences between this new trade initiative and the TPP.

Source: Kurose, Y., & Kurose, Y. (2022, May 21). INTERVIEW | US Envoy introduces proposed new Indo-Pacific Economic Order | JAPAN forward

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3. President Joe Biden launched the Indo-Pacific Economic Framework for Prosperity in Tokyo, Japan.

     On the 23rd of May, 2022, in Tokyo, Japan, the US President Biden launched the Indo-Pacific Economic Framework for Prosperity (IPEF) including a dozen initial partners: Australia, Brunei, India, Indonesia, Japan, Republic of Korea, Malaysia, New Zealand, the Philippines, Singapore, Thailand, and Vietnam. The framework will focus on four key pillars to establish high-standard commitments that will deepen the economic engagement between participating countries: Connected Economy, Resilient Economy, Clean Economy, and Fair Economy. It is the first trade initiative from the US since this country withdrew from the Trans-Pacific Partnership on the 30th of January, 2017. The White House stated that countries are invited to join in collective discussions, which would lead to further negotiations on the aforementioned pillars.

Source: The White House. (2022, May 22). FACT SHEET: In Asia, President Biden and a dozen Indo-Pacific partners launch the Indo-Pacific Economic Framework for Prosperity

Menon, J. (2022, June 3). Commentary: Biden wants Asia to trade with the US as an ‘alternative to China’ but details are scant. CNA

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4. Taiwan's exclusion from the launch of IPEF. What are the reasons behind and future potentials?

     On March 9th, a senior Taiwanese official demanded that the country be admitted as a "full member" of the Indo-Pacific Economic Framework, claiming that Taipei was a trustworthy associate and an integral component of the world supply chain. The US, in contrast to Taiwan's aspirations, did not act with good faith while adding Taiwan as an official member of the IPEF. The American side is of the opinion that Taiwanese involvement in the economic portion would certainly further erode Sino-American relations. Taiwan's inclusion in the IPEF framework from the outset may cause other countries in the region, especially ASEAN member states, to hesitate to join because of their fear of direct confrontation with China. Therefore, the US needs to convince other countries that the IPEF is not an anti-China alliance (Novia Huang, Hsieh Fang-yu and Joseph Yeh write for Focus Taiwan - CNA).

Source: Focus Taiwan - CNA English News. (2022, May 23). Taiwan’s exclusion from IPEF based on geopolitical factors: Taiwanese analysts - Focus Taiwan

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5. National Security Advisor Jake Sullivan issued a statement of the White House on Fiji Joining the Indo-Pacific Economic Framework for Prosperity.

     On the 26th of May, 2022, the White House issued a statement on the website whitehouse.gov, expressing the US government’s attitude towards the participation of Fiji. According to the statement, President Joe Biden welcomes Fiji’s decision to join the Indo-Pacific Economic Framework for Prosperity (IPEF) as the 14th nation, and the first member in the Pacific Islands region. Along with the participation of Fiji, IPEF will reflect the full regional diversity of the Indo-Pacific, with members from Northeast and Southeast Asia, South Asia, Oceania, and the Pacific Islands.

Source: The White House (2022, May 27). Statement by National Security Advisor Jake Sullivan on Fiji joining the Indo-Pacific Economic Framework for Prosperity

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6. IPEF, India and the desire to reduce economic independence on China.

    On May 23rd, India joined the Indo-Pacific Economic Framework (IPEF) on the sidelines of the Quad Summit in Tokyo. The Indian government is attempting to lessen China's influence on their economy based on IPEF, despite the fact that bilateral trade between the two countries has been steadily increasing over the past few years, with the exception of 2020 when it decreased as a result of the military conflict in the Galwan Valley between the Indian and Chinese armed forces. To bring it about, IPEF still needs greater direction for how its members will participate in economic activity, even if it was established with the goal of opposing China. In this situation, IPEF is considered to create the confidence that multilateral economic cooperation could also benefit India. (Writes Niranjan Marjani for The Diplomat).

Source: Marjani, N. (2022, May 27). Can IPEF reduce India’s economic dependence on China? The Diplomat

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     Until now, the IPEF is still a “new point” in diplomacy strategies of nations in the region generally and the United States particularly. Whether this framework will be operated independently and effectively, or it is just theoretical discussions, this question remains unanswered.

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