Highlighting the growing convergence of India, Japan and US interests in the
Indo- Pacific region, the three nations underscored the importance of
international law, peaceful settlement of disputes and freedom of navigation,
including in the South China Sea.
External Affairs Minister Sushma Swaraj, her Japanese counterpart Fumio
Kishida and US Secretary of State John Kerry attended the first US-India-Japan
Trilateral Ministerial dialogue here during which they agreed to work together
to maintain maritime security through greater collaboration.
In a media note released after the meeting yesterday, the three ministers
highlighted the growing convergence of their respective countries' interests in
the Indo-Pacific region.
"They also underscored the importance of international law and peaceful
settlement of disputes; freedom of navigation and overflight; and unimpeded
lawful commerce, including in the South China Sea," the media note said.
Addressing the meeting, Swaraj said the Asia Pacific and the Indian Ocean
region is strategic for India to its security and economic interests. The sea
lanes of communication in the region are the lifetime – the lifeline of India's
trade and commercial externalities, she said.
She noted that as part of India's 'Act East' policy, the country has focused
on building stronger linkages with centers of economic growth in the region and
deepened political and security ties with them, including ASEAN member
countries.
In keeping with the Act East policy, India seeks an early membership of the
APEC, Swaraj said as she voiced keenness to work with the US and Japan for
early membership of APEC.
"We see the first meeting of India-US-Japan as a trilateral partnership
for peace, prosperity, and stability in the region as an effort to strengthen
transparency, inclusivity, and the rule of law in the region, and as a
commitment to what we can do together for our mutual benefit and also for the
larger good of the region," she said at the meeting held on the sidelines
of the 70th UN General Assembly.
Given that a substantial part of India's energy and goods trade passes
through the crucial sea lanes of Asia Pacific, Swaraj said as a law-abiding
nation India has always supported the freedom of navigation in international
waters, the right of passage and overflight, unimpeded commerce and access to
resources in accordance with principles of international law.
Representing a quarter of the world's population and economic production
power, the three countries highlighted their shared support for peace,
democracy, prosperity, and a rules-based international order.
Swaraj said the meeting highlights increasing convergence of the three
countries’ strategic, political, economic, and security interests.
"To realise our mutual objectives, we intend to grow our exchanges into
complete trilateral engagement in other areas, including regional connectivity
and humanitarian assistance in disaster situation, to realise our mutual
objectives," she added.
China claims almost the whole of the South China Sea and over the past year
has asserted its stance by rapidly converting tiny reefs into artificial
islands, with facilities for military use.
Taiwan, Vietnam, the Philippines, Malaysia and Brunei all have rival claims
to the waters, which incorporate strategically crucial shipping lanes and could
harbour oil and gas deposits.
China has been alleging outside interference specially from the US in its
maritime disputes with regional countries.
China is also critical about India's ONGC taking up the invitation of
Vietnam to drill of Hanoi's coast saying that it is a disputed area. India has
been asserting that it is a commercial operation and has no bearing on the
dispute to be resolved by the parties concerned.
The three ministers reiterated their support for ASEAN centrality in the
multilateral political and security architecture in the Asia-Pacific region.
Recognising the three countries' extensive disaster response capabilities
and converging interests, they agreed to convene an experts-level group on
humanitarian assistance and disaster relief to enhance ability to respond
jointly to complex disasters.
In an effort to capitalise on collective capacities in promoting regional
economic linkages, they launched an experts-level group on regional
connectivity to identify collaborative efforts that can help strengthen
regional connectivity, including between South and Southeast Asia.
Kerry said the meeting is significant as all of East Asia is an area of enormous
economic growth and also a place of challenge for some other issues of
security.
"It’s an important moment for us to be able to underscore our interest
in the Indo-Pacific region as part of India's East Asia policy, and also part
of Japan's very active engagement with South and Southeast Asia under Prime
Minister (Shinzo) Abe," Kerry said.
Kishida said the US, India, and Japan, working in close cooperation, will be
truly significant not only for the bilateral relations among the three
countries but also for the stability and prosperity of the whole Indo-Pacific
region.
The US and India also welcomed Japan’s
participation in the 2015 MALABAR exercise
