India to uphold rule of law in South China Sea to safeguard interests of all countries: Rajnath Singh

Addressing the festering maritime territorial dispute in the South China Sea, Defence Minister Rajnath Singh on Saturday said India’s emphasis on upholding the rule of law was not directed against any country, but was meant to safeguard the collective interests of all countries.

Though he did not mention China by name, the reference was obvious as Beijing is locked in a dispute with five other countries — Vietnam, Malaysia, the Philippines, Brunei and Taiwan — with each having overlapping claims in the hydrocarbon‑rich South China Sea.

The minister was speaking at the ASEAN defence ministers meeting at Kuala Lumpur, Malaysia. Barring Taiwan, the other countries locked in a dispute with China are members of the ASEAN.

He referred to the United Nations Convention on the Law of the Sea, saying “India’s 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”.

China has lost its case in the UN over maritime territorial demarcation but has refused to accept the verdict while it has expanded unilateral claims over vast swathes of the disputes waters of the South China Sea.

Meanwhile, Rajnath Singh asserted that India’s strategic engagement with ASEAN is not transactional but long-term and principle-driven, and it rests on a shared belief that the Indo-Pacific should remain open, inclusive, and free from coercion.

India’s security vision for the Indo-Pacific integrates defence cooperation with economic development, technology sharing, and human resource advancement. The interlinkages between security, growth, and sustainability define India’s approach to partnership with ASEAN, he added.

Defence cooperation with ASEAN countries is viewed as a contribution to regional peace, stability and capacity building. “India stands ready to deepen cooperation in all areas of mutual interest to promote dialogue over discord, and to strengthen regional mechanisms that ensure peace and stability,” the minister said.

India, he said, was ready to continue contributing constructively through dialogue, partnership, and practical cooperation.