Prime Minister Narendra Modi, addressing the East Asia Summit in Laos, emphasized the necessity for a free, open, and rules-based Indo-Pacific to promote regional peace and development. His remarks subtly criticized China’s assertive actions in the South China Sea, calling for a focus on development rather than expansionism.
Modi stressed the importance of the United Nations Convention on the Law of the Sea (UNCLOS) in regulating maritime activities, advocating for unimpeded Freedom of Navigation and Air Space. He also called for a robust Code of Conduct in the region, urging that the foreign policies of regional nations remain free from external influence.
Highlighting the central role of ASEAN in India’s Indo-Pacific vision, Modi reaffirmed India’s commitment to ASEAN unity and the Quad’s collaborative efforts. He referenced the Quad Foreign Ministers’ joint statement, which expressed concerns over China’s actions near Taiwan and in the South China Sea, condemning any coercive measures to alter the region’s status quo.
