India supports Philippines in upholding its national sovereignty: Jaishankar on South China Sea dispute

External Affairs Minister S Jaishankar on Tuesday extended India’s support to the Philippines in the South China Sea as the country continues to be engaged in a maritime dispute with China.

Addressing a news conference in the capital city of Manila during his official visit to the country, the foreign minister said, “I take this opportunity to firmly reiterate India’s support to the Philippines for upholding its national sovereignty.”

#WATCH | Manila: Addressing a press conference with Philippines Secretary for Foreign Affairs Enrique Manalo, EAM Dr S Jaishankar says, "We're not only important maritime nations, but we are at two ends of the Indo Pacific. Not exactly the end, the Philippines is in the middle.… pic.twitter.com/AJnAXCYU9X

— ANI (@ANI) March 26, 2024

He added, “As the world changes, it is essential that India and the Philippines cooperate more closely to shape the emerging model. Every country has the right to uphold and enforce its national sovereignty, he said in response to a question.”

What’s going on in the South China Sea?

Tensions between China and the Philippines have flared up in recent months as ships from both sides have clashed in the contested reefs.

Both the Philippines and China have refused to back down with Manila saying that the most recent conflict is the most serious incident yet for the Philippines.

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The latest incident took place on Saturday near Second Thomas Shoal in the Spratly Islands during a regular Philippine mission to resupply Filipino troops garrisoned on the BRP Sierra Madre, a grounded navy ship.

China, Philippines dy FMs hold phone call

Deputy foreign ministers from China and the Philippines held a phone call on Monday, the countries said, after Manila summoned a Chinese envoy over “aggressive actions” by the China Coast Guard in the contested South China Sea.

“Vice Foreign Minister Chen Xiaodong held a phone call with Philippine deputy foreign secretary (Maria Theresa) Lazaro, and made stern representations on issues including the Philippines’ transportation of supplies to the illegally “beached” military ship on Ren’ai Reef,” China’s foreign ministry said in a statement, using the Chinese name for Second Thomas Shoal in the Spratly Islands.

Manila said Lazaro, the undersecretary for bilateral relations and ASEAN affairs, expressed the Philippines’ “strongest protest against the aggressive actions undertaken by the China Coast Guard and Chinese Maritime Militia”.

With inputs from AFP