Obama stresses greater role for India in Asia-Pacific

Final day: Beijing rejects role for countries outside the region in settling South China sea dispute

United States President Barack Obama on Tuesday called for “a greater role” for New Delhi in Asia-Pacific, although a document outlining India-US joint strategic vision for the region released on Sunday by him and Prime Minister Narendra Modi raised hackles in China.

“(The) United States welcomes a greater role for India in Asia Pacific, where the freedom of navigation must be upheld and dispute must be resolved peacefully,” Obama said, delivering a public speech at Siri Fort Auditorium in New Delhi on the last day of his second visit to India.

The US president also said America could be the “best partner” of India. “India and the United States are not just natural partners- I believe that America can be India's best partner. I believe that,” he said, amid deafening cheers from an audience of 2,000 people, mostly students and youths.

“Of course, only Indians can decide India’s role in the world. But I’m here because I am absolutely convinced that both our peoples will have more jobs and opportunity, our nations will be more secure, and the world will be a safer and more just place when our two democracies stand together,” said the American President, who also reiterated US support to India’s bid for membership of Asia-Pacific Economic Council and for a permanent seat in United Nations Security Council.

Obama and Modi on Sunday issued a document outlining the joint strategic vision of India and US for the Asia-Pacific and Indian Ocean region.

The document noted that regional prosperity would depend on security and affirmed the importance of safeguarding maritime security and ensuring freedom of navigation and overflight throughout the region, especially in the South China Sea.

The South China Sea is at the centre of an escalating conflict between China and many of its neighbours — Brunei, Malaysia, Vietnam, Philippines and Taiwan.  India and the US jointly called upon all parties to avoid the threat or use of force and pursue resolution of territorial and maritime disputes through peaceful means, in accordance with universally recognised principles of international law, including the United Nations Convention on the Law of the Sea.

Beijing strongly reacted to the US-India bonhomie and their joint strategic vision for Asia-Pacific, with official spokesperson of the Ministry of Foreign Affairs Chinese government, Hua Chunying, stating that the dispute over South China Sea should be “peacefully resolved through dialogue and consultation between countries directly concerned”. She also subtly sought to reject any role for countries outside the region in settling the dispute.

An article in China’s state-controlled newspapers “Global Times” and “People’s Daily” on Monday cautioned India not to fall into Washington’s “trap” aimed at pitting New Delhi against Beijing as part of “pivot to Asia” doctrine of the US.

Notwithstanding the reactions from China, Obama on Tuesday not only called for a greater role for India in Asia-Pacific, but also said both India and the US could be even closer partners in ensuring mutual security.

“So, to ensure international security and peace, multilateral institutions created in 20th century must be updated for the 21st. Therefore, I support a reformed United Nations Security Council that includes India as a permanent member,” said Obama.