Manila, July 23: India’s External Affairs Minister Dr. S. Jaishankar addressed the 33rd ASEAN Regional Forum Ministerial Meeting in Manila, emphasizing that attacks on commercial vessels and civilian infrastructure are entirely unacceptable. He stressed the need for trade via international maritime routes to remain safe, uninterrupted, and free.
Following the meeting, Jaishankar took to social media platform X to express his support for the Manila Plan of Action, which aligns with India’s Indo-Pacific vision across its five key pillars.
He stated, “India advocates a collaborative approach in disaster relief, sharing best practices, developing standard operating procedures (SOPs), and conducting real-time and tabletop exercises.”
Jaishankar highlighted India’s support for the Coalition for Disaster Resilient Infrastructure (CDRI), which regularly provides field hospitals, search and rescue teams, relief materials, and medical assistance. He noted, “Recently, India has assisted in rehabilitation and relief efforts following cyclones in Sri Lanka, the Philippines, and Jamaica, as well as earthquakes in Myanmar, Venezuela, and Afghanistan.”
On the issue of terrorism, Jaishankar reiterated the need for a zero-tolerance policy, emphasizing that serious consequences should follow terrorist activities. He also stressed the importance of cutting off financial support sources for terrorism. He mentioned, “India is co-chairing the ASEAN Defence Ministers’ Meeting Plus (ADMM+) counter-terrorism expert working group with Malaysia, compiling best practices to combat terrorism.”
Regarding maritime security, he stated that India’s Information Fusion Centre, the Indo-Pacific Maritime Domain Awareness initiative, and the deployment of Indian naval forces from the Northern Arabian Sea to the Western Pacific play a crucial role in combating piracy, human trafficking, and drug smuggling, thereby securing maritime trade.
Jaishankar urged the international community to remain vigilant against activities that undermine nuclear non-proliferation and disarmament. He advocated for a responsible, human-centered approach to artificial intelligence (AI) and increasing global cooperation to combat cybercrime.
On the South China Sea issue, he affirmed India’s support for an effective, meaningful, and legally binding code of conduct in accordance with the United Nations Convention on the Law of the Sea (UNCLOS-1982), which respects the rights of all legitimate users.
The South China Sea is one of the busiest maritime trade routes in the world, with China, the Philippines, Vietnam, Malaysia, Brunei, and Taiwan asserting their claims, leading to periodic maritime confrontations.
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