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ASEAN Ministers Hold Emergency Meeting To Tackle Myanmar Crisis In Bangkok

December 5, 2024, 1:20 pm

ASEAN member states are set to hold a ministerial meeting in Thailand later this month to address the ongoing crisis in Myanmar, Indonesia’s foreign ministry spokesperson Roy Soemirat announced on Thursday.

Invited by Laos, the current ASEAN chair, the meeting will focus on implementing the bloc’s five-point consensus plan, designed to resolve the political and humanitarian turmoil following Myanmar’s 2021 military coup.

The plan, introduced in April 2021, has seen minimal progress as Myanmar’s junta continues its violent crackdown on dissent and ignores calls for dialogue from its regional neighbors.

At October’s ASEAN summit, leaders reiterated their demand for an “immediate cessation” of violence, stressing the need for a “Myanmar-owned and -led” national dialogue and improved conditions for humanitarian aid delivery.

The ministerial talks are scheduled to begin on December 20, with Indonesia’s foreign minister among the expected attendees.

MoS Pabitra Margherita Inaugurates 3rd ASEAN-India Music Festival

November 30, 2024, 4:24 am

The 3rd ASEAN-India Music Festival was inaugurated by Union Minister of State for External Affairs, Pabitra Margherita, in New Delhi on Friday. This cultural event, marking a decade of India’s Act East Policy, celebrates the deep historical and cultural bonds between India and ASEAN nations.

Minister Margherita’s Address:

In his address, Minister Margherita highlighted the significance of music as a universal language that bridges cultures and connects people. He remarked, “Today’s event is very special because we have an opportunity to hear music from a region with which we share deep civilization bonds. We share language, literature, cultural practices, stories of Ramayana and Mahabharata, Jatakas, Buddhism, art, architecture, and even festivals.”

He also noted that 2024 marks the tenth anniversary of India’s Act East Policy, first announced by Prime Minister Narendra Modi in 2014 at the ASEAN-India Summit. This policy aims to enhance India’s engagement with ASEAN countries and strengthen cooperation across sectors such as trade, security, and culture.

Festival Highlights:

The festival is a testament to the cultural ties between India and ASEAN, with performances by bands from both regions. The 3rd ASEAN-India Music Festival builds on the civilizational connection and showcases the shared heritage that binds India and ASEAN nations.

Minister Margherita shared updates on X, saying, “Inaugurated the 3rd ASEAN-India Music Festival today, organised to mark 10 years of the Act East Policy. Also witnessed incredible performances by bands from the ASEAN region & India. The festival builds on the civilisational connect with ASEAN countries.”

Diplomatic Context:

The music festival is a part of broader efforts to strengthen the relationship between India and ASEAN. Recently, Prime Minister Narendra Modi participated in the 21st India-ASEAN Summit in Laos, where he highlighted the importance of India-ASEAN ties for the future of Asia. External Affairs Minister S. Jaishankar also delivered the keynote address at the 8th Roundtable of the ASEAN-India Network of Think Tanks, stressing the strategic importance of the relationship.

India and ASEAN continue to deepen their collaboration, with a focus on trade, security, and cultural exchange, as evidenced by initiatives like the ASEAN-India Music Festival.

Russia And China Block East Asia Summit Consensus Over South China Sea Dispute

October 13, 2024, 1:01 pm

Russia and China blocked a proposed consensus statement for the East Asia Summit (EAS), primarily due to disagreements over language concerning the contested South China Sea, a US official revealed on Saturday. The draft statement, crafted by the 10-nation Association of Southeast Asian Nations (ASEAN), was presented during the 18-nation EAS meeting in Laos on Thursday.

ASEAN offered the draft on a “take-it-or-leave-it” basis, according to the US official, speaking anonymously. While the United States, Japan, Australia, South Korea, and India supported the proposal, Russia and China refused to proceed with it.

Russian Foreign Minister Sergei Lavrov explained at a news conference in Vientiane that the statement failed due to attempts by the US, Japan, South Korea, Australia, and New Zealand to turn it into a “purely political” document.

The key sticking point was language related to the United Nations Convention on the Law of the Sea (UNCLOS), which went beyond what had been agreed upon in the 2023 EAS statement. The US official clarified that the draft did not favor any specific claimant in the South China Sea disputes but acknowledged its broader framework under UNCLOS.

China claims nearly the entire South China Sea, which has heightened tensions with rival claimants, particularly the Philippines. ASEAN has been negotiating a code of conduct with Beijing regarding the region, with some members emphasizing the importance of UNCLOS as the foundation for such agreements. While China supports the idea of a code of conduct, it does not recognize a 2016 ruling that invalidated its claims under UNCLOS.

In the proposed draft seen by Reuters, the contested language included a sub-clause referencing a 2023 UN resolution that stated UNCLOS “sets out the legal framework within which all activities in the oceans and seas must be carried out.” Additionally, another sub-clause mentioned geopolitical challenges in the South China Sea, Korean Peninsula, Myanmar, Ukraine, and the Middle East.

Chinese Premier Li Qiang expressed Beijing’s commitment to UNCLOS and its efforts to finalize a code of conduct, but reaffirmed that China’s territorial claims are based on historical and legal grounds. He urged countries outside the region to respect the efforts of China and ASEAN to maintain peace and stability in the South China Sea.

India and Vietnam Agree to Strengthen Trade and Increase Security Cooperation

August 2, 2024, 5:24 am

On Thursday, India and Vietnam agreed to enhance their defense cooperation to ensure greater stability in the Indo-Pacific region and to reinforce efforts for freedom of navigation and overflight in the South China Sea amid China’s assertive stance in the area.

The agreement followed discussions between Prime Minister Narendra Modi and Vietnamese Prime Minister Pham Minh Chinh. Both leaders also committed to advancing trade and economic relations, aiming to increase bilateral trade from its current $15 billion level, eliminate trade barriers, and establish a new economic diplomacy dialogue.

Vietnam has become a crucial partner for India within the Association of Southeast Asian Nations (ASEAN), particularly in trade and security matters. Vietnam seeks to strengthen its defense and security collaboration with India, especially concerning its ongoing territorial disputes with China in the South China Sea.

During a media briefing after the talks, Modi announced the adoption of a new Plan of Action to enhance their comprehensive strategic partnership, which was first established in 2016. He highlighted a $300 million credit line agreement designed to bolster Vietnam’s maritime security.

Modi emphasized Vietnam’s importance in India’s “Act East” policy and Indo-Pacific strategy, stating, “We share a unified vision for the Indo-Pacific region, supporting evolution rather than expansionism.”

Chinh stated that both nations would intensify their efforts for peace, stability, and security in the South China Sea and advocate for peaceful dispute resolution based on international law, particularly the United Nations Convention on the Law of the Sea (UNCLOS) of 1982.

Chinh proposed doubling bilateral trade and investment within the next three to five years, suggesting the creation of a new mechanism and an economic diplomacy dialogue at the deputy foreign minister level.

In a subsequent speech at the Indian Council of World Affairs, Chinh called for a new trade and economic cooperation agreement and encouraged increased Indian investment in infrastructure, air and maritime connectivity, and oil and gas sectors.

A joint statement from both countries confirmed their agreement on closer cooperation to eliminate trade barriers and enhance bilateral trade. The statement also mentioned that the review of the ASEAN-India Trade in Goods Agreement aims to create a simpler and more trade-friendly system.

Vietnam welcomed Indian investments in high technology, IT, manufacturing, textiles, semiconductors, and renewable energy. In turn, India sought Vietnamese investments in agriculture, aquaculture, wood processing, urban development, bamboo production, digital technology, and e-vehicles.

Additionally, Modi and Chinh virtually inaugurated an Army Software Park at the Telecommunications University in Nha Trang, funded by a $5 million Indian grant. This facility will focus on IT and foreign language training and support digital transformation efforts for military and other sectors.

Vietnamese Prime Minister Visits India To Strengthen Defence And Economic Ties

August 1, 2024, 5:19 pm

Deepening Strategic Partnership

Vietnam’s Prime Minister Pham Minh Chinh is on a three-day visit to India, focusing on strengthening defence and economic ties. This visit underscores the commitment of both countries to enhance their Comprehensive Strategic Partnership, a relationship that was elevated during Prime Minister Narendra Modi’s visit to Vietnam in 2016.

Prime Minister Modi’s “Act East” policy, which succeeded the “Look East” policy, has been instrumental in fast-tracking engagement with ASEAN and other East Asian countries. This policy aims to promote a safe, secure, and prosperous Indo-Pacific region, counterbalancing expansionist ambitions in the area.

Trade and Defence

Bilateral trade between India and Vietnam has surged to $15 billion, a significant increase from just a couple of hundred million dollars a decade ago. Both nations are keen on further boosting engagement in sectors such as electronics, telecommunications, pharmaceuticals, clean energy, and the digital economy.

Defence cooperation is a key highlight of PM Pham Minh Chinh’s visit. In 2023, India gifted the missile corvette INS Kirpan to the Vietnam People’s Navy, emphasizing its commitment to deepening defence ties. In 2022, India’s Defence Minister Rajnath Singh visited Vietnam to hand over 12 high-speed guard boats built with Indian assistance. Current discussions may include potential acquisitions of Indian BrahMos missiles and the Akash surface-to-air missile system.

Cultural and Civilisational History

Beyond strategic and economic engagements, the two countries share deep cultural and civilizational ties, which have the potential to enhance mutual trust through people-to-people relationships. Ancient texts mention Jambudvipa, or Bharatvarsha, which included East Asia and Vietnam, historically known as Champadesh.

A temple in Ho Chi Minh City, dedicated to the Mariamman Goddess, highlights the strong cultural linkages. Built in the 1880s by the Tamil community, the temple attracts worshippers from various ethnicities, reflecting a shared religious heritage. This connection is further established through Cambodian Khmer cultural and religious practices, linking Vietnamese and Indian forms of worship.

Looking Ahead

As India and Vietnam strengthen their partnership, exploring and promoting these shared historical practices can enhance people-to-people connections and deepen mutual trust. This visit by the Vietnamese Prime Minister marks a significant milestone, and it is anticipated that Prime Minister Modi may reciprocate with a visit to Vietnam in the near future to further solidify the relationship between the two countries.

India And China Agree To Expedite Troop Withdrawal From Disputed Border

July 26, 2024, 1:20 pm

On Friday India’s government announced that India and China have agreed to work urgently to withdraw tens of thousands of troops stationed along their disputed border, aiming to resolve a long-running standoff.

Indian Foreign Minister S Jaishankar met with his Chinese counterpart, Wang Yi, on Thursday during the Association of Southeast Asian Nations (ASEAN) meetings in Laos. They emphasized the need for an early resolution of outstanding issues along the Line of Actual Control (LAC), the disputed Himalayan border between the two nations.

LAC separates Chinese and Indian-held territories from Ladakh in the west to India’s eastern state of Arunachal Pradesh, which China claims in its entirety. Relations between the two countries deteriorated in July 2020 after a military clash resulted in the deaths of at least 20 Indian soldiers and four Chinese soldiers, leading to a prolonged standoff in the rugged mountainous region. Both sides have stationed tens of thousands of military personnel, supported by artillery, tanks, and fighter jets.

According to an Indian statement, the two foreign ministers “agreed on the need to work with purpose and urgency to achieve complete disengagement at the earliest.” The statement highlighted that peace on the border is essential for restoring normalcy in ties between the two countries.

Jaishankar remarked that the border issues have “cast a shadow” over India-China relations for the past four years despite considerable efforts by both sides to resolve them. “The state of the border will necessarily be reflected on the state of our ties,” he stated.

Wang Yi stressed that improving China-India relations is beneficial for both countries and other nations, according to China’s official Xinhua News Agency. Both sides agreed to work together to maintain peace in border areas and push for progress.

India and China fought a war over their border in 1962. The Line of Actual Control divides areas of physical control rather than territorial claims. India asserts that the de facto border is 3,488 kilometers (2,167 miles) long, while China claims a considerably shorter distance.

Top Indian and Chinese army commanders have held several rounds of talks since the 2020 clash to discuss the disengagement of troops from tension areas, signaling a mutual interest in de-escalating the conflict.

Jaishankar promotes India-ASEAN cooperation in Indo-Pacific

April 23, 2024, 6:25 pm

In a virtual address at the first ASEAN Future Forum, External Affairs Minister S. Jaishankar emphasized the importance of enhanced cooperation between India and ASEAN countries in shaping the emerging regional architecture of the Indo-Pacific. He expressed India’s support for ASEAN unity, centrality, and the ASEAN outlook on the Indo-Pacific, highlighting that a strong and unified ASEAN can play a constructive role in regional affairs.

“We support ASEAN unity, ASEAN centrality and the ASEAN outlook on Indo-Pacific. India truly believes that a strong and unified ASEAN can play a constructive role in the emerging regional architecture of the Indo-Pacific,” EAM Jaishankar said in a virtual address at the first ASEAN Future Forum on Tuesday.

Jaishankar mentioned the synergy between India’s Indo-Pacific Oceans Initiative (IPOI) and the ASEAN outlook on Indo-Pacific (AOIP), as reflected in joint statements, providing a solid framework for addressing comprehensive security challenges.

Referring to India’s G20 presidency and the Voice of Global South summits, he stressed the need for the Global South to have a greater voice in international affairs. Jaishankar emphasized the growing importance of ASEAN and India in dealing with the realities of a multipolar Asia and world order, calling for increased cooperation and coordination between the two entities.

“We also believe that the time has come for the global south to present its perspective and assume a greater role in international affairs. During our G-20 presidency last year, we held virtual Voice of Global South summits with the participation of several ASEAN member states,” he said.

“Today, a multipolar Asia and a multipolar world are increasingly self-evident. This brings to the fore an ever-important role of ASEAN and India in dealing with the realities of the emerging world order. It underlies the need for greater cooperation and coordination between India and ASEAN,” he added.

Regarding security challenges in the Indo-Pacific, Jaishankar highlighted the significance of upholding the United Nations Convention on the Law of the Sea (UNCLOS) to ensure freedom of navigation, overflight, and unimpeded commerce. He mentioned India’s initiative of Security and Growth for All in the Region (SAGAR), aimed at contributing to peace and stability.

“India’s initiative of security and growth for all in the region SAGAR is aimed at contributing towards peace and stability in the region. Friends, it is vital that freedom of navigation and overflight and unimpeded commerce are respected and facilitated by all. The 1982 UN Convention on the Laws of Seas provides a comprehensive legal framework and serves as the constitution of the seas, one within which all activities in the oceans and seas must be carried out,” the External Affairs Minister said.

Additionally, Jaishankar discussed collective efforts in dealing with climate change, disasters, transnational crimes, terrorism, cyberattacks, human trafficking, and health and food security. He noted the impact of the digital era and artificial intelligence on security concerns, emphasizing the importance of trust and transparency.

The ASEAN Future Forum, held under Vietnam’s presidency, focuses on fostering a cohesive and dynamic ASEAN business community in the digital age, promoting fast and sustainable growth while prioritizing a people-centered ASEAN Community.

PM Modi holds bilateral meeting with Timor-Leste President Jose Ramos-Horta in Gujarat

January 9, 2024, 11:20 am

Prime Minister Narendra Modi engaged in a bilateral meeting with Timor-Leste President Jose Ramos-Horta at Gujarat’s Mahatma Mandir on Tuesday. The Nobel Peace Laureate and the Indian Prime Minister exchanged handshakes, warmly greeting each other during the encounter. PM Modi also interacted with the accompanying delegation, with the presence of External Affairs Minister S Jaishankar, National Security Adviser Ajit Doval, and Foreign Secretary Vinay Kwatra.

President Ramos-Horta had arrived in Gujarat on Monday to participate in the 10th Vibrant Gujarat Summit, where he was welcomed by Gujarat Chief Minister Bhupendrabhai Patel. This visit marked a significant milestone as the first Head of State-level meeting between India and Timor-Leste. India had early established diplomatic ties with Timor-Leste, and the Ministry of External Affairs official spokesperson Randhir Jaiswal highlighted the importance of this visit in a post on X, stating, “President @JoseRamosHorta1 of Timor-Leste welcomed by CM @Bhupendrapbjp of Gujarat as he arrives in Ahmedabad for the 10th @VibrantGujarat Summit. This is the first Head of State level visit between the two countries, marking a significant milestone in bilateral partnership.”

“President Jose Ramos-Horta of Timor-Leste welcomed by CM of Gujarat Bhupendra Patel as he arrives in Ahmedabad for the 10th Vibrant Gujarat Summit,” MEA Spokesperson Randhir Jaiswal said in a post on ‘X’.

#WATCH | Gujarat: Prime Minister Narendra Modi holds a bilateral meeting with José Ramos-Horta, President of Timor-Leste, in Gandhinagar.#VibrantGujaratGlobalSummit pic.twitter.com/hV7ZyVBwxp

— ANI (@ANI) January 9, 2024

Diplomatic relations between India and Timor-Leste were established in January 2003. During the ASEAN-India Summit in Jakarta on September 7, 2023, Prime Minister Modi announced the decision to set up an Indian Embassy in Dili, the capital of Timor-Leste. This strategic move reflects India’s commitment to ASEAN and underscores the importance placed on its relations with Timor-Leste.

PM Modi in Indonesia : History, geography unite India and ASEAN

September 7, 2023, 10:03 am

In attendance at the 20th ASEAN Summit on Thursday in Jakarta, Indonesia, Prime Minister Narendra Modi noted that ASEAN is a key component of India’s Act East policy and plays a significant role in the country’s Indo-Pacific initiative. The fourth decade of the India-ASEAN partnership has passed, and Prime Minister Modi said it is an honor to co-chair the Summit in his speech to the summit. He also commended Joko Widodo, the president of Indonesia, for organizing the Summit.

PM Modi highlighted the shared values, regional integration and shared beliefs in peace that unite India and the ASEAN.
“Our history and geography unite India and ASEAN. Along with it, our shared values, regional integration, and our shared belief in peace, prosperity and a multipolar world also unite us. ASEAN is the central pillar of India’s Act East Policy. India supports ASEAN’s outlook on ASEAN-India centrality and Indo-Pacific,” PM Modi said in his address in Hindi.
In his opening remarks at the 20th ASEAN Summit, PM Modi said “This year’s theme is ASEAN Matters: Epicentrum of Growth. ASEAN matters because here everyone’s voice is heard and ASEAN is epicentrum of growth because ASEAN plays an important role in global growth.”

He made reference to the G20 theme of “Vasudhaiva Kutumbakam – One Earth, One Family, One Future,” which is being led by India. PM Modi urged amplifying the voice of the global south as well. The celebration of the India-ASEAN Friendship Day in 2022, according to the prime minister, will transform the ties into a comprehensive strategic partnership. The Prime Minister offered his congratulations to newly-installed Cambodian Prime Minister Hune Manet. He also mentioned Laos, which will lead ASEAN starting in 2024, as well as Singapore, the ASEAN Country Coordinator.

The PM also attended attend the East Asia Summit today.
Upon his arrival in the country earlier today, PM Modi was accorded a ceremonial welcome at Jakarta International Airport.

Vice President Dhankhar participates in 17th East Asia Summit in Cambodia

November 13, 2022, 12:34 pm

Jagdeep Dhankar, Vice President on Sunday participated in the 17^th East Asia Summit in Phnom Penh , Cambodia. Dhankar and his wife Sudesh Dhankar arrived on a three-day visit to Cambodia on November 11.

Alongside the 17th East Asia Summit in Phnom Penh, Cambodia, Jagdeep Dhankhar also met US President Joe Biden. It is important to note that Vladimir Putin, the president of Russia, did not go to the East Asia Summit. Despite getting an invitation from the host Indonesia to the G20 leaders’ conference slated for next week, he is not certain to go.

Notably, the East Asia Summit includes eight dialogue partners—India, China, Japan, the Republic of Korea, Australia, New Zealand, the United States, and Russia—as well as ASEAN member states Brunei Darussalam, Cambodia, Indonesia, Lao PDR, Malaysia, Myanmar, Singapore, Thailand, the Philippines, and Vietnam.

The premier venue for strategic discussion in the Indo-Pacific is the East Asia Summit (EAS). It is the only forum led by leaders where all significant Indo-Pacific partners gather to discuss the political, security, and economic issues that the region is currently facing, and it has a significant impact on fostering tighter regional cooperation.

The annual Leaders’ Summit, which often takes place in conjunction with ASEAN Leaders meetings in the fourth quarter of every year, is the culmination of the EAS calendar, according to a statement provided by the Australian government. Leaders also make statements on current events to demonstrate political will for shaping policy responses and to establish a foundation for collaboration.

In addition to the Leaders Summit, the EAS Foreign Ministers and Economic Ministers convene annually.

Meetings between EAS Environment, Energy and Education Ministers are also held from time to time. Almost entirely as a result of the COVID-19 outbreak, the 16th East Asia Summit took place on October 27, 2021. Dhankhar took part in the 19th ASEAN-India Summit earlier on November 12 in Phnom Penh.

The ASEAN-India Summit is notable for celebrating the 30th anniversary of dialogue relations between the two nations. In Phnom Penh, Vice President Dhankhar met with Prime Minister Hun Sen of Cambodia. The “wide-ranging” discussions between the two leaders included a variety of topics, including de-mining, human resources, and development initiatives.

In Phnom Penh, Dhankhar and Hun Sen were present when four Memorandums of Understanding (MoUs) were exchanged between India and Cambodia in the fields of culture, wildlife, and health. Vice President Jagdeep Dhankhar attended a gathering for the Indian community on November 11 in Phnom Penh, Cambodia.

Speaking on the occasion, VP Dhankhar remarked, “We think of Cambodia as our civilizational sister and extended family, just as we think of Cambodia as the respected land of Lord Buddha.” In Phnom Penh’s Chakto Mukh Conference Hall, Dhankhar and his wife Sudesh Dhankhar attended the painting exhibition of the ASEAN-India Artists Group.

India, ASEAN strengthen ties to a comprehensive strategic partnership

November 12, 2022, 2:31 pm

On the occasion of the 19th ASEAN-India Summit, ASEAN and India have established the Comprehensive Strategic Partnership. To commemorate three decades of dialogue relationship and reaffirm the importance of maintaining ASEAN Centrality in the evolving regional architecture in the Indo-Pacific, India and ASEAN have upgraded their ties.

The move is expected to strengthen trade and collaboration in sectors such as public healthcare infrastructure, cyber security. The summit also agreed to enhance cooperation against terrorism and transnational crimes including international economic crimes and money laundering, cybercrime, drugs and human trafficking, and arms smuggling.

Singapore calls on China and ASEAN for diplomatic resolution of SCS Conflicts

October 4, 2022, 4:34 pm

Singapore called on the Association of Southeast Asian nations to use diplomacy and dialogue to settle disputes. The move comes amid growing territorial disputes between China and other littoral states in the South China Sea (SCS).

Speaking to ANI, Ong Keng Yong, Ambassador-at-Large at the Singapore Ministry of Foreign Affairs, on Tuesday said, “There must be a conclusion, otherwise we cannot reassure our shipping community, international companies dealing with business in this part of the world. I think the important thing now is that both sides have to sit down and go through all the possible scenarios and options and then come to a commonsensical conclusion. If they maintain their respective position, we cannot get any conclusion. “

Back in 2002, China and ASEAN agreed on a Declaration of Conduct of Parties (DOC), but the progress on a Code of Conduct (COC) has been slow amid an increasing risk of conflict.

The COC would safeguard the rights and interests of all parties to SCS. China and ASEAN are currently working to speed up the conclusion of negotiations for the issuance of a legally binding Code of Conduct (COC) in the SCS.

For the last two years, most of the negotiations over the South China Sea, the thorniest issue between China and ASEAN, have been conducted online because of the COVID-19 pandemic. In May 2022, the two parties resumed the physical textual negotiation of the single draft COC negotiating text during the 36^th Joint Working Group on the Implementation of the Declaration on the Conduct of Parties in the South China Sea (JWG-DOC) in Siem Reap, Cambodia.

China and five other parties including four ASEAN members—Brunei, Malaysia, the Philippines and Vietnam – hold competing claims in the South China Sea. China has made the most expansive claims about SCS, and an international arbitration tribunal ruled in 2016 that they lacked legal foundation.

ASEAN comprises ten members: Brunei, Cambodia, Indonesia, Laos, Malaysia, Myanmar, the Philippines, Singapore, Thailand and Vietnam.