External Affairs Minister S Jaishankar rooted for establishing a substantive and effective code of conduct for securing sea lines of communication or SLOC in the South China Sea, highlighting their critical role in maintaining peace and stability in the Indo-Pacific region. His remarks came during the 14th East Asia Summit (EAS) Foreign Ministers Meeting held in Vientiane, Laos.
In his address, Jaishankar underlined that the SLOCs in the South China Sea are essential for regional prosperity and development, referring to them as vital maritime routes for trade, logistics, and naval operations. He stressed that the proposed Code of Conduct should adhere to international law and respect the rights of nations not involved in the negotiations.
Jaishankar’s comments are particularly significant as Chinese Foreign Minister Wang Yi is also attending the summit. The South China Sea is a contentious area, with China asserting claims over most of it, while several other countries, including The Philippines, Vietnam, Malaysia, Brunei, and Taiwan, have competing claims. This resource-rich region is crucial for global shipping routes connecting Northeast Asia with Southeast Asia and West Asia.
In addition to maritime security, Jaishankar called for de-escalation and restraint regarding the ongoing conflict in Gaza and reiterated India’s commitment to providing humanitarian aid to Palestine. He also voiced concerns about recent attacks on commercial vessels in the Red Sea and emphasised Bharat’s independent efforts to ensure maritime safety.
Regarding the conflict in Ukraine, Jaishankar reiterated Bharat’s stance on the importance of dialogue and diplomacy, highlighting recent engagements by Prime Minister Narendra Modi with President Vladimir Putin and President Volodymyr Zelenskyy. India remains prepared to contribute to resolving the conflict in any way possible.
Besides, Jaishankar reaffirmed Bharat’s support for the ASEAN Outlook on Indo-Pacific (AOIP) and its alignment with the Indo-Pacific Oceans Initiative (IPOI). He encouraged more EAS members to join the IPOI and highlighted India’s ongoing contributions to the EAS Plan of Action, including the establishment of Nalanda University.
Bharat values the involvement of ASEAN members in the Voice of the Global South Summit and remains committed to the EAS process, viewing it as crucial for bridging differences and addressing diverse interests in the region.
