Secure communication lines in SCS key for peace: EAM Jaishankar | India News

VIENTIANE (LAOS): External affairs minister S Jaishankar on Saturday stressed the need for a substantive and effective code of conduct to secure sea lines of communication in South China Sea which he said are critical for peace and stability of the Indo-Pacific region, amid growing concerns about China’s maritime coercion.
Addressing the 14th East Asia Summit Foreign Ministers Meeting in Laos’s capital Vientiane, he said India will contribute towards a stronger EAS process and uphold ASEAN unity and centrality through our Act East Policy.
On maritime security, he said: “The Sea Lines of Communication (SLOC) passing through South China Sea are critical for peace, stability, prosperity and development of the Indo-Pacific region.”
“The code of conduct should be substantive and effective, consistent with international law and should not prejudice legitimate rights and interest of nations not party to discussions,” he said. His comments hold significance as his Chinese counterpart Wang Yi is also in Vientiane to attend the summit.
The resource-rich South China Sea in the Indo-Pacific region is widely seen as a potential flashpoint for global conflict. China claims most of the South China Sea as its own, while The Philippines, Vietnam, Malaysia, Brunei and Taiwan have counterclaims over the maritime area.
Southeast Asian countries are trying to reach an agreement with China on a code of conduct to avert confrontations in the South China Sea.
At the meeting, Jaishankar also called for de-escalation and restraint in Gaza. “India continues to extend humanitarian assistance to the people of Palestine,” he said.
Jaishankar has also expressed concern over the attacks against commercial vessels in the Red Sea.