Rajnath Singh attends the 11th ASEAN Defence Ministers' Meeting-Plus in Vientiane, Lao PDR.
Credit: X/@SpokespersonMoD
New Delhi: The proposed Code of Conduct for the South China Sea should not prejudice the interests of nations that are not party to the negotiations, and should be in conformity to international laws, Defence Minister Rajnath Singh told ASEAN nations in Vientiane on Thursday.
Singh aired India’s views to countries attending the 10-nation ADMM Plus conference in Lao PDR amidst an effort by the ASEAN to convince China for such a code to guide ship movement in the South China Sea.
For years, the eight ASEAN nations have been engaged in negotiations with China to come out with a Code of Conduct on fishing and ship movements in the South China Sea in the wake of Beijing making sovereignty claims on most parts of the sea.
Even though Beijing is opposed to the idea of having such a code, diplomatic efforts are on by the ASEAN members amidst a growing rivalry between the USA and China.
“India would like to see a Code that does not prejudice the legitimate rights and interests of nations which are not party to these deliberations. The code should be fully consistent with international law, in particular the UN Convention Law of Sea 1982,” Rajnath said.
In a veiled reference to China, the defence minister said, “India stands for freedom of navigation and overflight, unimpeded lawful commerce and adherence to international law for peace and prosperity in the Indo-Pacific.”
The minister stressed on the need for dialogue to resolve complex issues ranging from border disputes to trade agreements.
“An open dialogue promotes trust, understanding, and cooperation, laying the foundation for sustainable partnerships. The power of dialogue has always proven effective, yielding tangible results that contribute to stability and harmony on the global stage,” he said.
Meanwhile, Australia and India have signed an arrangement to enable the Royal Australian Air Force and the Indian Air Force to conduct air-to-air refuelling. Under the arrangement, RAAF’s air-to-air refuelling aircraft, the KC-30A Multi-Role Tanker Transport, will be able to refuel IAF aircraft.
This was announced at the Laos capital after a meeting between Rajnath and his Australian counterpart Pat Conroy. The agreement was signed during an Australia-India Air Staff talk, the Australian Defence Ministry said in a statement.
“India is a top-tier security partner for Australia and the ability to conduct air-to-air refuelling with the Indian armed forces elevates our interoperability and enables us to cooperate more effectively in a range of different scenarios,” said Deputy Chief of Air Force, Air Vice-Marshal Harvey Reynolds, who signed the agreement.
Rajnath also met his counterparts from New Zealand and South Korea besides having a special meeting with the departing US Secretary of Defence Lloyd Austin, whom the minister described as a “great friend of India”. The two leaders welcomed ongoing efforts to deepen the military partnership and interoperability between India and the USA to maintain a free and open Indo-Pacific.