Later this week External Affairs Minister S Jaishankar will head to Asean nations – Malaysia, the Philippines and Singapore and the focus will be on strengthening bilateral cooperation with them.
The minister, according to the official announcement made by the Ministry of External Affairs, is visiting these countries at the invitation of his counterparts from March 23-27. And during meetings the agenda of talks will also provide an opportunity for engagement on regional issues of mutual concern.
Significance of the visit to the Philippines
This is the first country in the region which has imported supersonic BrahMos Missiles and has also expressed interest in the indigenous helicopters and Light Combat Aircraft.
The Philippines has purchased BrahMos missiles from India in an effort to counter China’s bullying tactics. In recent years, the South China Sea has been a focal point of tensions between China and the Philippines, with incidents like the collision between a Philippine boat and a Chinese coast guard vessel sparking mutual accusations. And has urged the Philippines to halt its actions and avoid further escalation.
Adding to the complexity, Scarborough Shoal is claimed by China, Taiwan, and the Philippines, exacerbating the regional disputes. Tensions have been fuelled by various factors, including the Philippines’ procurement of supersonic cruise missiles from India, which China viewed unfavourably as it bolstered coastal defence capabilities.
China has also voiced concerns over the Philippines’ growing ties with the United States, suggesting that provocative actions may be driven by a desire for American attention or influence.
Jaishankar’s visit to the Philippines is important because tensions are often seen between China and the Philippines in the South China Sea. A few months ago, a Chinese coast guard ship hit a Philippines supply boat. India has supported the Philippines in territorial disputes in the South China Sea. Tension is increasing in the world over China’s claims of sovereignty over the South China Sea, which is considered a source of hydrocarbons.
The visit of the Foreign Minister to the Philippines is also considered important because China has recently signed a military agreement with Maldives under which China has assured military help to Maldives. Due to its geographical proximity to India, this is an alarm bell for India.
India-Malaysia relations back on track
Relations between India and Malaysia had derailed since 2019. The then Prime Minister of Malaysia Mahathir Mohammad had made statements regarding Kashmir in the United Nations General Assembly session, which infuriated India. PM Mahathir had said that India has forcibly occupied Kashmir illegitimately and India responded strongly to this comment by the Malaysian PM. This led to the deterioration of ties between the two countries. However, following the change of power in 2022, PM Anwar Ibrahim has tried to improve relations with India. In such a situation, Foreign Minister S Jaishankar’s visit to Malaysia will work to further strengthen relations.
Foreign Minister’s bilateral talks in Singapore
Relations between Singapore and India are very good. Singapore is one of India’s closest partners in the Association of Southeast Asian Nations (ASEAN) and the two sides have close ties in areas ranging from trade to defence and security. Recently, in order to strengthen relations between India and Singapore, a digital service of instant fund transfer has been started. Apart from this, the Sarang helicopter aerobatics team of the Indian Air Force took part in the Singapore Air Show (10-25 February).
S Jaishankar also has a special attachment to Singapore because S Jaishankar had spent a lot of time in Singapore as High Commissioner before joining politics.
