 "Rajnath Singh to hold talks with Chinese counterpart Dong Jun at ADMM-Plus in Laos")
Amid escalating tensions in the Indo-Pacific and a fragile thaw in relations with China, Defence Minister Rajnath Singh is attending the Asean Defence Ministers’ Meeting Plus (ADMM-Plus) in Vientiane, Laos, from November 20 to 22, 2024. The summit gathers defence ministers from ASEAN countries and eight key partners including India, China and the United States to address pressing security challenges like maritime safety and disaster management.
A key highlight of Singh’s visit is his anticipated meeting with Chinese Defence Minister Dong Jun on the sidelines of the summit. This marks their first official discussion since recent agreements to ease tensions along the Line of Actual Control. The meeting is expected to reinforce progress on military disengagement and resumption of patrolling following a four-year standoff in Eastern Ladakh. Both nations have agreed to better inform each other about patrol activities to avoid misunderstandings, a vital step in stabilising the border.
This dialogue follows recent diplomatic overtures including External Affairs Minister S Jaishankar’s meeting with his Chinese counterpart and renewed commitments made during the Brics summit between Prime Minister Narendra Modi and President Xi Jinping. Singh’s engagement with Dong is poised to further solidify these developments with a clear focus on mutual interest in de-escalation.
Beyond bilateral talks with China, Singh will engage with leaders from Japan, Australia, US and other partners to strengthen regional cooperation. Discussions will focus on ensuring safe sea routes, combating terrorism and addressing security concerns in the Indo-Pacific, especially in the South China Sea.
India’s active participation in ADMM-Plus highlights its growing role in regional security dialogues. A dialogue partner with Asean since 1992, India has leveraged the ADMM-Plus platform—established in 2010—to enhance multilateral cooperation on security.
This year’s summit, chaired by Laos, comes at a time of heightened global focus on the Indo-Pacific. With outcomes from the ADMM-Plus likely to shape peace and stability in the region, India’s engagement reflects its commitment to fostering collaboration and addressing shared challenges in an increasingly contested geopolitical environment.
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