Manila, July 22: Indian External Affairs Minister S. Jaishankar met with Philippine Foreign Minister Theresa P. Lazaro in Manila on Wednesday. The two leaders discussed ways to enhance the India-Philippines strategic partnership and reviewed recent developments in the Indo-Pacific region.
Following the meeting, Jaishankar expressed his satisfaction on social media platform X, stating, “It was a pleasure to meet with Philippine Foreign Minister Theresa P. Lazaro in Manila today. We had meaningful discussions focused on strengthening our strategic partnership in trade and investment, education, defense and security, maritime cooperation, capacity building, and development assistance.”
He further mentioned, “We also deliberated on recent developments in the Indo-Pacific region.”
Lazaro echoed this sentiment on X, highlighting that the two nations had “meaningful discussions” regarding their strategic partnership. She noted that both sides reaffirmed their commitment to enhancing cooperation in areas such as fintech, trade and investment, higher education, pharmaceuticals, defense, maritime security, and critical infrastructure.
This meeting comes amid rising tensions between the Philippines and China in the Indo-Pacific region. According to the Philippines, on July 20, China engaged in “dangerous and aggressive actions” against its naval personnel in the Second Thomas Shoal area of the South China Sea.
The developments in the South China Sea are of strategic importance to India, as a significant portion of its trade passes through the maritime routes of the Indo-Pacific. New Delhi has consistently advocated for freedom of navigation, unimpeded maritime trade, and the peaceful resolution of maritime disputes in accordance with international law.
Recently, India reiterated the importance of freedom of navigation, air travel, and lawful maritime trade under international law, emphasizing that all disputes related to the South China Sea should be resolved peacefully under the United Nations Convention on the Law of the Sea (UNCLOS).
Meanwhile, under U.S. leadership, twelve countries reaffirmed their commitment to a “free and open Indo-Pacific” on the tenth anniversary of the historic arbitration tribunal ruling on the South China Sea in 2016, which rejected China’s extensive maritime claims.
In a joint statement, the U.S., Australia, Canada, Estonia, Japan, Latvia, Lithuania, New Zealand, the Philippines, Romania, Slovenia, and the United Kingdom reiterated their support for a peaceful, stable, and rules-based Indo-Pacific region based on international law.
Earlier in the day, during his inaugural address at the ASEAN-India Post-Ministerial Conference 2026, Jaishankar reiterated India’s long-term commitment to the Indo-Pacific region. He stated that India and ASEAN have always worked together for peace, stability, and prosperity in the broader Indo-Pacific.
He remarked, “ASEAN’s central role is a significant principle for India. An example of this is that ASEAN’s perspective on the Indo-Pacific aligns with India’s ‘Indo-Pacific Oceans Initiative.’ Our collaboration is evident in various other areas through activities, policies, and achievements. The world is undergoing a transformative phase, and India and ASEAN, with a combined population of nearly two billion, must move forward together for a secure and stable future.”
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