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NEW DELHI: Amid increasing China-Philippines tensions in South China Sea (SCS), foreign minister S Jaishankar Tuesday backed the southeast Asian country’s efforts to uphold its sovereignty after a meeting with his counterpart Enrique Manalo in Manila.
The meeting took place a day after the Philippines summoned the Chinese ambassador and lodged a protest against China’s “aggressive actions” in the SCS, nearly 90% of which is claimed by Beijing.Last week, US also condemned China’s “dangerous” actions against what it called lawful Philippine maritime operations.
Calling for strict adherence to a rules-based order, Jaishankar reiterated “firmly India’s support to the Philippines for upholding its national sovereignty'”. The minister underlined the significance of UNCLOS (United Nations Convention on the Law of the Sea) 1982 as the constitution of the seas, calling upon all parties to adhere to it in its entirety, both in letter and in spirit.
However, unlike after their last meeting in India in June 2023, the ministers stopped short of asking China specifically to abide by a 2016 legally binding ruling that strongly refuted China’s expansive claims in its dispute with the Philippines. India had then joined Manila for the first time, as stated in a joint statement, in categorically asking China to abide by the 2016 Arbitral Award on the SCS that Beijing continues to ignore.
The UNCLOS arbitration tribunal had called Beijing’s nine-dash line, which claims sovereignty over 90% of SCS water, and its reclamation activities in the Philippine waters unlawful.
Jaishankar said as a nation deeply invested in that region because of its Act East policy and Indo-Pacific vision, India follows all developments with great interest. “We are strongly supportive of ASEAN’s centrality, cohesion and unity. We are also convinced that the progress and prosperity of this region is best served by staunch adherence to a rules-based order,” said the minister. Jaishankar also briefed Manalo about the Indian Navy’s deployments in the Red Sea and the Arabian Sea to counter ongoing threats.
India has been looking to ramp up ties with the Philippines, most notably in the defence sector, and has offered Manila a concessional line of credit that could help it meet its requirements.
The meeting took place a day after the Philippines summoned the Chinese ambassador and lodged a protest against China’s “aggressive actions” in the SCS, nearly 90% of which is claimed by Beijing.Last week, US also condemned China’s “dangerous” actions against what it called lawful Philippine maritime operations.
Calling for strict adherence to a rules-based order, Jaishankar reiterated “firmly India’s support to the Philippines for upholding its national sovereignty'”. The minister underlined the significance of UNCLOS (United Nations Convention on the Law of the Sea) 1982 as the constitution of the seas, calling upon all parties to adhere to it in its entirety, both in letter and in spirit.
However, unlike after their last meeting in India in June 2023, the ministers stopped short of asking China specifically to abide by a 2016 legally binding ruling that strongly refuted China’s expansive claims in its dispute with the Philippines. India had then joined Manila for the first time, as stated in a joint statement, in categorically asking China to abide by the 2016 Arbitral Award on the SCS that Beijing continues to ignore.
The UNCLOS arbitration tribunal had called Beijing’s nine-dash line, which claims sovereignty over 90% of SCS water, and its reclamation activities in the Philippine waters unlawful.
Jaishankar said as a nation deeply invested in that region because of its Act East policy and Indo-Pacific vision, India follows all developments with great interest. “We are strongly supportive of ASEAN’s centrality, cohesion and unity. We are also convinced that the progress and prosperity of this region is best served by staunch adherence to a rules-based order,” said the minister. Jaishankar also briefed Manalo about the Indian Navy’s deployments in the Red Sea and the Arabian Sea to counter ongoing threats.
India has been looking to ramp up ties with the Philippines, most notably in the defence sector, and has offered Manila a concessional line of credit that could help it meet its requirements.
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