New Delhi: In a veiled reference to Chinese military assertiveness in the Asean (South-east Asian) region without naming it, Prime Minister Narendra Modi “assured” Asean leaders at the Asean-India Summit in Manila of India’s steady “support towards achieving a rules-based regional security architecture that best attests to the region’s interests and its peaceful development”. The menace of terrorism was also addressed by Mr Modi in his interaction with the Asean leaders.
‘Act East’ policy shaped around Asean
The Prime Minister also said he “looked forward to a befitting culmination of the commemorative year and receiving you at the India-Asean Special Commemorative Summit on 25 January, 2018, in New Delhi” and that the “1.25 billion people of India are eagerly waiting to welcome the Asean Leaders as our chief guests at India’s 69th Republic Day Celebrations”.
Asean has 10 member-nations that are—-Thailand, Vietnam, Indonesia, Malaysia, the Philippines, Singapore, Myanmar, Cambodia, Laos and Brunei.
Secretary (East) in the MEA Preeti Saran told reporters in Manila that all 10 Asean leaders have accepted Mr Modi’s invitation to them to visit India. China has maritime disputes with some of the Asean nations in the South China Sea including the Philippines and Vietnam. Mr Modi said, “India’s Act East Policy is shaped around the Asean, and its centrality in the regional security architecture of the Indo-Pacific region is evident. Our wide-ranging agenda of cooperation under the 3rd Asean-India Plan of Action has progressed well covering the three crucial pillars of politico-security, economic and cultural partnership.
