Jaishankar says attacks on civilian shipping cannot be tolerated, calls for maritime security amid Middle East crisis
At the East Asia Summit in Manila, India's external affairs minister stated that attacks on civilian shipping, seafarers, and maritime infrastructure cannot be accepted, and called for adherence to maritime law
India reiterated support for early finalisation of a substantive, effective, and legally binding Code of Conduct for the South China Sea
The minister called for global "zero tolerance" on terrorism and noted India's role co-chairing an ASEAN-linked counter-terrorism working group with Malaysia
The address linked disruptions in global sea lanes and ongoing conflicts to broader economic impact, particularly on developing economies
Bilateral meetings were held on the sidelines with counterparts from Oman, the United Kingdom, and the Netherlands
East Asia Summit (EAS) — Structure and India's Founding Role
The East Asia Summit is a premier forum for strategic dialogue among leaders of the Indo-Pacific region, distinct from the economically focused ASEAN+3 grouping and the security-dialogue-focused ASEAN Regional Forum (ARF, established 1994).
Key Details
- EAS was established in 2005; its first summit was held in Kuala Lumpur on 14 December 2005
- It comprises 18 members — the 10 ASEAN states plus 8 dialogue partners: Australia, China, India, Japan, New Zealand, South Korea, Russia, and the United States
- India has been a founding member since the Summit's inception in 2005
- Unlike ASEAN+3 (economic integration focus), EAS covers a broader agenda including political, security, and strategic issues
The minister's statement was delivered at the 21st EAS summit, the annual forum through which India engages the wider Indo-Pacific leadership on maritime security and connectivity issues.
South China Sea Code of Conduct — From the 2002 Declaration to a Binding Instrument
ASEAN and China have negotiated over maritime conduct in the South China Sea since the 1990s, but progress from a non-binding political declaration to a binding Code of Conduct (CoC) has remained slow.
Key Details
- The 2002 Declaration on the Conduct of Parties in the South China Sea (DOC) is a non-binding document committing parties to self-restraint and peaceful dispute resolution
- Negotiations have since produced "Guidelines" for implementing the DOC (2011), a "Framework" for the CoC (2017), and a "Single Draft Negotiating Text" (2018), but a final, binding CoC remains unconcluded
- Both the DOC and the proposed CoC reference the UN Convention on the Law of the Sea (UNCLOS), 1982, as the governing legal framework for maritime rights and freedom of navigation
- India is not a claimant in the South China Sea dispute but has consistently backed a rules-based order and freedom of navigation under UNCLOS
India's call for a "substantive, effective, and legally binding" CoC reflects its long-standing position that South China Sea disputes must be resolved through a binding UNCLOS-consistent instrument rather than the current non-binding DOC arrangement.
ADMM-Plus Counter-Terrorism Cooperation
The ASEAN Defence Ministers' Meeting-Plus (ADMM-Plus) is the principal defence-cooperation platform linking ASEAN with its eight dialogue partners, operating alongside but distinct from the EAS.
Key Details
- ADMM-Plus was established in 2010, with its first meeting held in Ha Noi, Vietnam
- Its membership mirrors the EAS: the 10 ASEAN states plus Australia, China, India, Japan, New Zealand, South Korea, Russia, and the United States
- It operates through Experts' Working Groups (EWGs) covering areas such as counter-terrorism, maritime security, and humanitarian assistance
- India co-chairs the ADMM-Plus Experts' Working Group on Counter-Terrorism together with Malaysia
The minister's reference to India's counter-terrorism cooperation and a "compendium of best practices" is tied to this specific EWG co-chaired with Malaysia under the ADMM-Plus framework.
- East Asia Summit established: 2005; 18 members (ASEAN-10 plus 8 dialogue partners); India a founding member
- 2026 summit: 21st East Asia Summit, held in Manila
- South China Sea Declaration on Conduct (DOC): 2002; UNCLOS: 1982; CoC negotiations ongoing since at least 2013 without a final binding text
- ADMM-Plus established: 2010; India co-chairs its Counter-Terrorism Experts' Working Group with Malaysia
- India's bilateral meetings on the sidelines: Oman, United Kingdom, Netherlands