GUWAHATI: China has swiftly responded with strong opposition to India’s staunch support for the Philippines in safeguarding its sovereignty amidst escalating territorial tensions between China and the Southeast Asian nation.
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During his visit to Manila on Tuesday, India's External Affairs Minister S Jaishankar held discussions with his Philippine counterpart, Enrique A Manalo, and the Foreign Secretary.
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In a joint news conference, Jaishankar reiterated India's unwavering backing of the Philippines' national sovereignty. He focused on the significance of the United Nations Convention on the Law of the Sea 1982 as the fundamental framework governing maritime affairs and conveyed a message to China, emphasising adherence to this framework for regional progress and prosperity.
Jaishankar's visit coincided with heightened tensions between China and the Philippines over conflicting territorial claims in the South China Sea. China swiftly reacted to Jaishankar's remarks, asserting that third-party interference in maritime disputes is unwarranted and urging India to respect China's sovereignty and maritime interests.
Speaking at the news conference, Manalo highlighted a recent incident where a water cannon attack by Chinese vessels on a Philippine Navy outpost in the South China Sea resulted in injuries to Philippine soldiers. President Ferdinand Romualdez Marcos Jr's administration lodged a protest with China, while Beijing cautioned against provocative actions and vowed to defend its territorial sovereignty.
The South China Sea, a crucial waterway facilitating over US $3.25 trillion of international trade, remains a focal point of contention between China and neighboring countries, including Vietnam, Brunei, Malaysia, and the Philippines. Despite a 2016 Arbitral Tribunal ruling rejecting Beijing's expansive claims in the region, China has persisted in its assertive behavior.
India's reaffirmation of support for the Philippines comes amidst ongoing tensions between Indian and Chinese forces along the Line of Actual Control (LAC) in eastern Ladakh. Additionally, Beijing has recently reiterated its claims on India's Arunachal Pradesh region. In June 2023, India extended a Line of Credit (LoC) to the Philippines to bolster its defence capabilities in response to China's escalating assertiveness in the Indo-Pacific region. Earlier, the Philippines had signed a contract worth approximately $374.96 million to procure BrahMos supersonic cruise missiles jointly manufactured by India and Russia