Signal to China and Russia: Respect rules-based order

The India-US summit saw PM Narendra Modi and President Joe Biden discussing a wide range of regional and global issues to deepen their strategic convergence, most notably in the Indo-Pacific. The focus of attention expectedly was China as the 2 leaders expressed concern over coercive actions in the Indo-Pacific, strongly opposed any unilateral action meant to change the status quo and endorsed Quad as a partnership for common good.

Specifically on the Ukraine issue, while Modi didn’t condemn Russia, he joined Biden in reminding Moscow about the need to respect the UN Charter, international law and sovereignty and territorial integrity. They expressed deep concern over the ``terrible and tragic’’ humanitarian consequences of the conflict, while underlining the serious and growing impact of the war on food, fuel, energy security and also critical supply chains.

``They called for greater efforts to mitigate the consequences of the war, especially in the developing world. Both countries further pledge to render continuing humanitarian assistance to the people of Ukraine,’’ said a joint statement, issued after the meeting, adding that both leaders concurred on the importance of post-conflict reconstruction in Ukraine.

Asked about the discussions on China, foreign secretary Vinay Kwatra said that Modi and Biden focused on the nature of the strategic challenges that India and the US face in the Indo-Pacific and what they could do to mitigate those.

In a message to China that the US remained focused on the Indo-Pacific, despite the immediate attention on Ukraine, Biden joined Modi in reaffirming their “enduring “ commitment to a free, open, inclusive, peaceful and prosperous Indo-Pacific and also underscored the need to follow the maritime rules-based order in East and South China Seas, where China continues to pose a security threat to its maritime neighbours.

''Both leaders expressed concern over coercive actions and rising tensions, and strongly oppose destabilizing or unilateral actions that seek to change the status quo by force. Both sides emphasized the importance of adherence to international law, particularly as reflected in the United Nations Convention on the Law of the Sea (UNCLOS), and the maintenance of freedom of navigation and overflight, in addressing challenges to the maritime rules-based order, including in the East and South China Seas,’’ said the leaders in the joint statement.

It’s perhaps worth recalling here that India had made the first specific mention of South China Sea in a bilateral document in 2014, after Modi’s first US summit with then president Barack Obama. India will host the Quad summit next year and look to further consolidate cooperation under the mechanism. Modi also welcomed US decision to join India’s Indo-Pacific Oceans Initiative.

Modi and Biden also held discussions on Afghanistan and while they agreed on the need to provide more humanitarian assistance to the Afghan people, they also called upon the Taliban to abide by the UNSC Resolution 2593, passed under India’s presidency of the Council, that demands that the Afghan territory be never used to target any other country, or to shelter terrorists or plan or finance terrorist attacks.

On the Myanmar issue, one area of divergence between India and the US because of the former’s reluctance to call out the military junta because of its own security challenges in the northeast, Modi joined Biden in expressing deep concern about the deteriorating situation in Myanmar and called for the release of all those arbitrarily detained. The 2 leaders also sought establishment of constructive dialogue, and the transition of Myanmar toward an inclusive federal democratic system.