New Delhi: With the threat of China’s assertive and aggressive agenda looming large over the Indo-Pacific and other geographies of the world, India has started ramping up diplomatic and defence engagement with the ASEAN, a bloc consisting of 10 countries including the ones that are also facing problems due to Beijing’s belligerence. After the BrahMos deal with Philippines, India’s hectic diplomatic engagement with Vietnam followed by the steps to increase major defence cooperation with Hanoi is being viewed as a signal about Prime Minister Narendra Modi’s larger strategic plan to reach out to the ASEAN nations more frequently in the…