India should enhance diplomatic, eco presence in E Asia:expert

India's diplomatic and economic presence in the East Asia region is not as prominent as the regional powers would like, a US expert today said.
Alice D Ba, who is here as part of US state department's public policy programme, said India's influence culturally and in terms of population was quite strong.
"I think as a diplomatic presence, it is not as prominent as one might expect given those other influences. Economically it could probably be stronger," she said.
An associate professor of Political Science & International Relations at the University of Delaware, Ba said India consults with the regional players as also tries to work with other major powers including US, China and Japan as it enhances its involvement.

Noting that the rise of China as a "major power" was a reality, she said most countries in the region, however, would rather not be over-reliant on one power.
"It is a large economy. It is a large power. You can't get away from China," she said.
India is, though, making moves to grow its engagement in the region and sustained attention is required on its part, she added.
"It is involved institutionally and I think that's a start," she said.