Defence minister Rajnath Singh will seek to strengthen defence ties with Southeast Asian nations and identify new areas of cooperation during his two-day visit to the Philippines for the 13th ASEAN Defence Ministers’ Meeting-Plus from October 28-29, officials said.
The visit comes days after Singh said India was ready to explore defence cooperation with the Southeast Asian bloc in areas ranging from patrol vessels, radars and air defence systems to helicopters, drones and other technologies. The visit will also focus on advancing a free, open and inclusive order in the vast Indo-Pacific region, the officials said.
India has consistently called for a free, open and inclusive order in the Indo-Pacific, pivoting on respect for the sovereignty and territorial integrity of all nations, while stressing the peaceful resolution of disputes through dialogue and under the framework of international law. China has longstanding territorial disputes in the South China Sea with several members of the bloc, including Malaysia, the Philippines and Vietnam. “Differences should be discussed early and peacefully, before they become disputes. We should support a regional order in which countries can work together without being forced to choose sides.”
India seeks an Indo-Pacific where all countries can make their own choices, protect their interests, and pursue development in peace, Singh said on October 14 at the inaugural session of the ASEAN-India Defence Think Tank Forum at the Manohar Parrikar Institute of Defence Studies and Analyses.
“India is firmly committed to ASEAN centrality and the peace, stability, and collective growth of the Indo-Pacific region under our Act East Policy,” Singh said on the eve of his visit. “We believe that security is strengthened when countries build capacity together, respect international law, and maintain trust through dialogue,” Singh said.
Singh earlier called for adherence to international law and peaceful resolution of differences.
