India has expressed its support to the Philippines over China's aggression in the West Philippine Sea, saying it can be the country's "ship" in upholding international rules-based laws to maintain peace in the Indo-Pacific region.
During his meeting with President Marcos in Malacañan on Tuesday, March 26, Indian Minister of External Affairs Subrahmanyam Jaishankar stated that India is “very resolute” in their position on the South China Sea and honored the validity of the 2016 ruling of the United Nations Convention on the Law of the Sea (UNCLOS), which invalidated China’s claim on the Philippine waters.
Jaishankar said it is important for the Philippines, India, and other countries to coordinate and uphold international rules-based laws to maintain peace and order in the Indo-Pacific region.
The Indian official added that he is more than willing to become a “charter member” of the Philippines as far as efforts against China’s aggression in the South China Sea are concerned, adding that India is ready to help the Philippines even if the international ruling goes against them.
“So, if you want a country, which actually says will accept the judgment even if it goes against us, we are actually a natural candidate. So, we can be on your ship,” Jaishankar told Marcos.
Marcos, on the other hand, extended his gratitude for Jaishankar’s offer to the Philippines as he assured the Indian official that his administration will continue to uphold and adhere to the UNCLOS and international rules-based orders.
He said the Philippines and India shared common interests particularly in maintaining peace and order in the Indo-Pacific region, noting that India is one of the like-minded countries with the Philippines in terms of upholding international rules-based orders.
“We have many shared interests, primary of, that is to maintain the peace in our areas and so this is a concern now, not only of India or of the Philippines alone, but the entire world,” Marcos told Jaishankar.
“So, whatever it is that we can do to make the situation better, in partnership with India, which certainly be an important development for us,” he added.