At ASEAN, Rajnath backs inclusive, free Indo-Pacific

Defence minister Rajnath Singh on Saturday put the spotlight on the Indo-Pacific region and said it must remain free from coercion, reiterating India’s position that a rules-based international order is a must for peace, prosperity and stability in the vast maritime expanse.

- Rahul Singh

“India’s emphasis on the rule of law, particularly the United Nations Convention on the Law of the Sea, and its advocacy for freedom of navigation and overflight in the Indo-Pacific, are not directed against any country but are meant to safeguard the collective interests of all regional stakeholders,” Singh said at the ASEAN Defence Ministers’ Meeting (ADMM)-Plus in Kuala Lumpur.

His comments come at a time when China is seeking to boost its influence in the Indo-Pacific region by setting up military bases, pushing countries to advance its maritime claims and forcing strategic conces-