India bats for free Indo-Pacific at EAS amid China's South China Sea claims

India on Sunday highlighted the importance of the East Asia Summit (EAS) mechanism in promoting a free, open and inclusive Indo-Pacific with freedom of navigation and overflight, in a message to China, which is also an EAS participant.

India's position was highlighted by Vice President Jagdeep Dhankhar who led India at the EAS Summit in Cambodia. China's territorial claims in the South China Sea region by creating islands and fortifying them has led to fears that such a move would impact freedom of navigation in one the world's busiest trade routes.

"VP Jagdeep Dhankhar @VPSecretariat participated in the 17th East Asia Summit (EAS) in Phnom Penh today. Underlined the growing global concerns on food & energy security and called for EAS Members' full contribution to the International Year of Millets in 2023," the MEA spokesperson tweeted.


The spokesperson further tweeted, "Highlighted the importance of the EAS mechanism in promoting free, open & inclusive Indo-Pacific with freedom of navigation and overflight." The EAS session was a closed door meet.

Dhankhar and US President Joe Biden had a courtesy interaction at the EAS. Foreign minister S Jaishankar and US Secretary of State Anthony Blinken met in Cambodia and among other issues discussed G20-related developments, Ukraine, Indo-Pacific issues and the energy sector.

Apart from the Asean member states, the East Asia Summit includes India, China, Japan, the Republic of Korea, Australia, New Zealand, the US and Russia.

On Saturday, as India and Asean launched the Comprehensive Strategic Partnership, Dhankhar announced an additional contribution of $5 million to the Asean-India science and technology fund to enhance cooperation in sectors of public health, renewable energy and smart agriculture.

In a joint statement, Asean-India acknowledged the deep civilisational linkages, maritime connectivity, and cross-cultural exchanges between Southeast Asia and India which have grown stronger over the last 30 years, providing a strong foundation for Asean-India relations.

India and Asean nations also declared to enhance cooperation in the digital economy through a series of regional capacity-building activities in digital transformation, digital trade, digital skills and innovation, as well as Hackathons.