India's Emphasis on Indo-Pacific Security

Summary of India's Defence Diplomacy in the Indo-Pacific Region

1. Key Officials and Events:

   • Defence Minister Rajnath Singh addressed the ASEAN Defence Ministers' Meeting Plus (ADMM-Plus) in Kuala Lumpur.
   • Emphasized collective security without targeting any particular nation, particularly in context of China's military posture.

2. Strategic Principles:

   • Rule of Law and Freedom of Navigation: Highlighted adherence to the United Nations Convention on the Law of the Sea (UNCLOS) to safeguard interests in the Indo-Pacific region.
   • Collective Security Approach: Proposed to ensure sovereignty and shared interests of all nations, rejecting coercion.

3. India's Role and Initiatives:

   • India aims to strengthen long-term, principle-driven strategic engagement with ASEAN.
   • Ready to enhance cooperation on mutual interests, including peace, stability, and resilience against non-traditional threats (like cyber and climate issues).
   • Presented vision MAHASAGAR (Mutual and Holistic Advancement for Security and Growth across Regions) to reinforce collaborative security frameworks.

4. Context of ADMM-Plus:

   • Integrated 11 ASEAN nations and 8 dialogue partners (India, China, Australia, Japan, New Zealand, South Korea, Russia, the U.S.).
   • Established to address evolving regional security dynamics, which now includes areas such as cyber threats and maritime security.

5. International Agreements and Commitments:

   • India's connection to ASEAN through dialogue partnership established in 1992.
   • First ADMM-Plus convened in 2010 in Hanoi.
   • Reinforced commitment to an ASEAN-led security architecture adaptable to both traditional and non-traditional security threats.

6. Key Concepts for Future Security:

   • Inclusivity: Equal partnership among nations regardless of size or capacity to build a cooperative regional order.
   • Sustainability: Aim for resilient security architectures adaptable to shocks and long-term collaborative efforts.

7. Economic and Technological Implications:

   • Defence cooperation is closely linked with economic development, technology sharing, and human resource development.
   • India's approach underscores the interconnections of security, economic growth, and environmental sustainability.

8. Bilateral Engagements:

   • Conducted separate meetings with counterparts from Singapore, New Zealand, Vietnam, and South Korea to enhance bilateral defence relations.

9. Conclusion:

   • India’s approach to security in the Indo-Pacific focusing on shared values and collaborative mechanisms is critical amidst the backdrop of geopolitical tensions, especially with regard to China’s assertive actions in the South China Sea.