New Delhi: Prime Minister Narendra Modi has reached out to Obama-baiter President R.R. Duterte of the Philippines, the current ASEAN chair, with both leaders praising each other on Indo-ASEAN cooperation.
But what is most significant is that in a veiled message to China, PM Modi, in his outreach to the Philippines President, “clearly articulated that India would stand shoulder-to-shoulder with ASEAN in the pursuit of a rules-based regional architecture which is open, inclusive, balanced and equitable”.
During the last year of former US President Obama’s tenure, the US and Philippines had a bitter falling out over the alleged brutal crackdown on the drug menace in the south-east Asian country.
The rift was used by China to its advantage which reached out to the Philippines despite the Sino-Philippines dispute over maritime rights to the South China Sea. With a new US President in place, both India and America need the Philippines to keep China in check in the region which could be a tall order, given the sudden bonhomie between Manila and Beijing.
The Ministry of External Affairs (MEA) on Saturday said, “ASEAN and India are both contributors to regional growth and stability. The PM's message clearly articulated that India would stand shoulder-to-shoulder with ASEAN in the pursuit of a rules-based regional architecture which is open, inclusive, balanced and equitable. The External Affairs Minister (EAM) also highlighted India's desire to continue to work closely with ASEAN in regional and international fora, especially as the 21st century economic and security architecture was taking shape in the Asia-Pacific."
The reference by PM Modi to the "rules-based regional architecture" in the south-east Asian region is a clear indication of the apprehension shared by India, the US, Japan and many ASEAN countries that China is using its military might to settle territorial disputes in the South China Sea. India's move is also being perceived in some quarters as an attempt to reach out to the Philippines and contain Chinese influence there.
PM Modi and President Duterte reached out to each other, with the current year marking the 25th anniversary of the ASEAN-India Dialogue Partnership.
