External Affairs Minister S. Jaishankar on Thursday reaffirmed India’s commitment to ASEAN centrality, regional stability and a free, open and prosperous Indo-Pacific while addressing the 21st East Asia Summit (EAS) in Manila.
Highlighting the evolving global landscape, Jaishankar said the international order remains uncertain and volatile, with interdependence coexisting alongside geopolitical competition and strategic rivalries. He noted that multiple conflicts continue to impact the global economy, while energy, food and health security remain major concerns, particularly for countries of the Global South.
The External Affairs Minister said emerging technologies, changing partnerships and new strategic capabilities are reshaping the international system, with political and security considerations increasingly influencing economic decisions.
Calling for dialogue and diplomacy to address the conflict in West Asia, Jaishankar stressed that international waterways must remain safe, secure and open in accordance with international law. He said attacks on seafarers, civilian shipping and critical infrastructure are unacceptable under any circumstances.
On the South China Sea, Jaishankar reiterated India’s support for the early conclusion of a substantive, effective and legally binding Code of Conduct (CoC) that is fully consistent with the United Nations Convention on the Law of the Sea (UNCLOS), 1982, while safeguarding the legitimate rights of all users.
The minister also expressed India’s support for ASEAN-led efforts to find a peaceful resolution to the situation in Myanmar and reaffirmed New Delhi’s continued engagement with regional initiatives.
Raising concerns over transnational cybercrime, Jaishankar called for stronger collective action against cyber scam centres, noting that a significant number of Indian nationals have fallen victim to such operations.
On the humanitarian situation in West Asia, he said India has made significant contributions to relief and rehabilitation efforts and has emerged as a leading donor to the United Nations Relief and Works Agency for Palestine Refugees in the Near East (UNRWA). He reiterated India’s support for a two-state solution as the path to lasting peace.
Jaishankar also announced that India will host the 7th East Asia Summit Conference on Maritime Security Cooperation in Kochi and the East Asia Summit Maritime Heritage Festival in Lothal, underscoring the country’s commitment to strengthening regional maritime cooperation.
-IANS
