Defence Minister Rajnath Singh fired a sharp warning at the ASEAN Defence Ministers’ Meeting Plus in Kuala Lumpur Saturday, insisting the Indo-Pacific must remain open, inclusive, and completely free from coercion—clearly targeting China’s aggressive military buildup and territorial claims in the South China Sea. He declared “collective security” the non-negotiable foundation for protecting every nation’s sovereignty in a region rattled by escalating power rivalries and unpredictable flashpoints.

Singh reaffirmed India’s unwavering commitment to a rules-based international order, urging all nations to strictly follow the UN Convention on the Law of the Sea (UNCLOS) to guarantee peace, stability, and unrestricted freedom of navigation for global trade. He emphasized that India’s advocacy isn’t a veiled attack on any one power but a broad shield for every stakeholder’s interests, especially as ASEAN countries and allies push back against Beijing’s expansive maritime assertions.

He explained that tomorrow’s security won’t rely solely on firepower but on smarter management of shared resources, robust safeguards for digital and physical infrastructure, and coordinated responses to humanitarian disasters that ignore borders. Singh hailed the ADMM-Plus forum—linking ASEAN’s 10 members with eight dialogue partners—as the ideal platform to convert strategic talks into tangible peace-building actions, with India fully invested in long-term, principle-driven partnerships rather than fleeting deals.

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Highlighting emerging battlegrounds like cyber threats, real-time maritime domain awareness, and climate-linked conflict risks, Singh wove defence cooperation into India’s Act East Policy and broader Indo-Pacific vision, blending security with economic growth, tech sharing, and sustainability. He applauded Malaysia’s ASEAN chairmanship for prioritizing inclusivity, stressing the need for flexible, equal-opportunity security structures that endure future shocks.

Singh wrapped up with a powerful call to reinforce ASEAN-led regional frameworks through India’s MAHASAGAR initiative for mutual advancement, asserting that 15 years of inclusive cooperation prove collective strength is the only route to a stable, prosperous Indo-Pacific that benefits generations to come.

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