31 March 2024, NIICE Commentary 9004
Dr. Chander Shekhar
From March 25 to 27, 2024, the Indian Foreign Minister, Dr S. Jaishankar, paid a visit to the Philippines. During his visit, the multi-dimensional relationship between the two countries were reviewed and made commitments to further enhance their ties. The visit has underlined concerns and shared objectives to maintain peace and order in the region. Among others, it emphasized maritime cooperation and reiterated India’s commitment to the United Nations Convention on the Law of the Sea (UNCLOS) for shared future including in the South China Sea, a contentious sovereign issue between the People’s Republic of China and some Southeast Asian countries.
Shared Values and Interests
India and the Philippines share common democratic values (non-interference, use of peaceful means in conflict settlement and so on), interest in peace and development, self-determination, etc., in the changing world and geopolitical tensions. For centuries, India-Southeast Asian region is well connected in various ways including shared geography, culture (Buddhism and Hinduism) and values. Both countries are cautious of several issues that have comprehensive impacts on their partnership ranging from the UN, the NAM, the Indo-Pacific, Myanmar, and Ukraine. Furthermore, India believes that its ties with Manila serve to strengthen the cause of the global south and value the autonomy of decision making. In India’s Act East policy, the Philippine is an important friend and strategic partner that share common interests in the Southeast Asian region. During the visit, the leaders reaffirmed their shared interest in a free, open and inclusive Indo-Pacific region and underlined the need for peaceful resolution of conflict, namely, the South China Sea, as stated in June 2023.
Maritime Cooperation and Security
The ocean is considered as the backbone of the global economy and growth. Any disturbance from internal and external variables would affect all indiscriminately. Sources suggest that more than 80 percent of global trade by volume and 70 percent by value is carried by sea, of which 60 percent of maritime trade passes through Asia, in which the South China Sea carrying an estimated one-third of global shipping. The safety and security of Malacca strait, a narrow choke point and strategic channel, has carried USD 5.3 trillion worth of goods through the South China Sea annually.
On the other side, the attack on the Red Sea has impacted the global economy and diversified option via the Cape of Good Hope that added significant burden on economies. It has also impacted Indian interest as well as revealed its vulnerability dependency on the Bab-el-Mandeb Strait for its oil and gas imports and trade. Therefore, maritime safety and security has emerged as a common objective in international relations and especially between the Philippines and India. Manila is a major party to the South China Sea dispute. Its position has been consistent at the onset. Beijing asserts its sovereignty over almost all the islands and the adjacent water. This overlapping conflict makes it multiplex to settle down as several other parties also involved and interest of external powers for its international peace and security.
Recent trends demonstrate that the confrontation has increased between Manila and Beijing as they are involved in tussle over Second Thomas Shoal. From both sides, claims were made and accused each other; however, standoff remained as it is. Although India had shied before to take position on the SCS, however it has become assertive when it comes to regional security and a rules-based order. Dr Jaishankar in the press conference with his Manila counterpart Secretary Manalo underlined the importance of international law where he stated, “the progress and prosperity of this region is best served by staunch adherence to a rules-based order and UDr ”. On the other side, Secretary Manalo expressed the desire for the “expansion and deepening of the two countries’ security arrangements” and “the two countries also exploring other ways where they can contribute to the security of both countries as well as On the ”.
The People’s Republic of China (PRC) has described the visit by Minister to Manila as reported in Global Times, “India is hoping to put more pressure on China by siding with the Philippines on the South China Sea and its naïve to interfere in South China The ”. The South China Sea is not an inland water of any country, a conflict of any sort here will have broader consequences on regional and international stability and the rules based international order. India’s maritime doctrine is based on its belief, ‘Vasudhaiva kutumbhakam’ (which means the world is one family) which has a policy conversion with pragmatic elements called the Security and Growth for All in the Region (SAGAR).
The Declaration on the Conduct of Parties, which was signed in 2002, between the PRC and the ASEAN was a historic political effort that insists all to refrain from using force and promote a friendly and cooperative environment in order to promote a twentyT. The leaders also decided to enhance maritime cooperation in maritime domain awareness, shipping and seafaring, search and rescue, law enforcement and environmental protection.
Meanwhile, India’s Samudra Paheredar, a specialized pollution control vessel, arrived in Manila Bay on 25 March for its three-day visit. This demonstrates India’s commitment to its neighbors in Southeast Asia to protect and resolve the issues such as climate change. The presence of ship underscores the “deepening the relation and India’s long and distinguished Indian maritime tradition’s civilizational imprint is visible in this region”.
To sum up, Philippines-India relations have strengthen across domains including maritime security and cooperation. Jaishankar’s visit to Manila is a testimony of practical cooperation in areas such as maritime disaster etc. The shared vision of ASEAN Outlook on Indo-Pacific and India’s Indo-Pacific Initiative, which cover comprehensive regions, not merely its parochial element, are clear manifestation of their deepening ties which have shaped bilateral relations and inclusive cooperation in the maritime domain including the Indo-Pacific region. They need to work on joint ventures and exploration activities in international waters for shared destiny and regional peace.
Dr Chander Shekhar is an Author and Assistant Professor at St Joseph University, Bangalore and formerly a Research Faculty at ICWA (Ministry of External Affairs, GOI).
