美蘇冷戰結束，印度面臨外交及財政困境，為尋求外交突破及經濟能 量，1992年發動深具歷史意義的「東向政策」（Look East Policy),啟動與 東南亞的重新連結，融入東協政治經濟的安全體制。印度的東向，涵蓋一 個亞太戰略的建構，而重塑印度與東南亞的安全關係成為不可或缺的一 環。印度的東向經實行二十餘年，戰略範圍不斷擴大的同時，始終呈顯具 體的「東協中心」的取向，而東協亦歡迎並支持印度涉入東南亞事務，相 較於對中國崛起所產生的危機感，東協並無「恐印」情節，反而與印度建 立起緊密友好的戰略夥伴關係。本文旨在探討印度在東南亞安全角色的内 涵，其東向的進程如何呈現出「東協中心」的特色，以及東協的回應為何等。

Faced with international diplomatic isolation rendered due to the collapse of the US-USSR bipolarity, and domestic financial crisis by early 1990s, India was propelled to launch historical “Look East Policy” (LEP) for seeking political and economic energy, beginning with the rebuilding of the link with Southeast Asia. Under a holistic Asia-Pacific strategy construction, the making and implementing of LEP has brought ASEAN to its core, make the policy “ASEAN-centric”, with one focus on the participation of ASEAN „s political, economic and security institutions. Since the launch of LEP in 1992, the element of ASEAN has not been marginalized in LEP. Through LEP, India has been integrated into the regional power structure and its security role constructed positively with ASEAN5s extensive support. This article will explore the construction of security role for India in Southeast Asia along the evolution of LEP, how the eastward-looking course has been “ASEAN-centric” and why ASEAN nations have not born “Indophobia” as “Sinophobia”(Anti-Chinese sentiment) and instead, welcomed India’s involvement in the region.