Context: Recently, Minister of Defence called for an open and inclusive order in Indo-Pacific based upon respect for sovereignty and territorial integrity of nations while addressing the 8th ASEAN Defence Ministers Meeting (ADMM) Plus.
Key Facts

• India has strengthened its cooperative engagements in the Indo-Pacific based on converging visions and values for promotion of peace, stability and prosperity in the region.
• Premised upon the centrality of ASEAN, India supports utilisation of ASEAN-led mechanisms as important platforms for implementation of our shared vision for the Indo-Pacific.
• India’s views stressed that the emerging challenges to international peace and security cannot be addressed with outdated systems designed to deal with trials of the past.
• India’s support to freedom of navigation, over-flight and unimpeded commerce for all in international waters in accordance with the UN Convention on the Law of the Sea (UNCLOS).

Act East Policy

• The key elements of the policy aim to promote economic cooperation, cultural ties and develop strategic relationships with countries in the Indo-Pacific region through continuous engagement at bilateral, regional and multilateral levels.

Security & Dispute Resolution

• India called for an open and inclusive order in Indo-Pacific based upon respect for sovereignty and territorial integrity of nations.
• Supports freedom of navigation, overflight, and unimpeded commerce in the international waterways including the South China Sea, India hopes that the Code of Conduct negotiations (for South China Sea) will lead to outcomes that are in keeping with international law, including the the United Nations Convention on the Law of the Sea (UNCLOS).
• Recently, ASEAN and China agreed to expedite the resumption of negotiations on the code, which were halted by the pandemic.
• China and ASEAN started negotiations in 2013 on a supposedly binding code of conduct.
• Stressed on peaceful resolutions of disputes through dialogue and adherence to international rules and laws.
• Need new systems to address the emerging challenges to international peace and security.

Terrorism and radicalisation

• Gravest threats to world peace and security and called for collective cooperation to fully disrupt terror organisations and their networks
• Identify the perpetrators and hold them accountable and ensure that strong measures are taken against those who support and finance terrorism and provide sanctuary to terrorists.
• As a member of the Financial Action Task Force (FATF), India remains committed to combat financing of terrorism.

Cyber Threats

• Called for a multi-stakeholder approach guided by democratic values with a governance structure that is open and inclusive and a secure, open and stable internet with due respect to sovereignty of countries, that would drive the future of cyberspace.

Humanitarian Assistance and Disaster Relief (HADR) operations

• India remains one of the first to respond in times of distress in the immediate as well as extended neighbourhood.
• As a founding member of the Heads of Asian Coast Guard Agencies Meeting (HACGAM), India seeks to enhance capacity building through collaboration in the areas of Maritime Search & Rescue.

ADMM Plus

• The  is an annual meeting of Defence Ministers of 10 ASEAN (Association of Southeast Asian Nations) countries and eight dialogue partner countries – Australia, China, India, Japan, New Zealand, Republic of Korea, Russia and the United States.
• Brunei is the Chair of the ADMM Plus forum this year.

Agreed five areas of practical cooperation under this mechanism are:

• Maritime security, counter-terrorism, humanitarian assistance and disaster relief, peacekeeping operations and military medicine.
• In 2013, a new priority area of humanitarian mine action was agreed.