Abu Dhabi: The consequences of China’s rise and growing capabilities are “particularly profound”, External Affairs Minister Dr S Jaishankar said on Saturday as he flagged the “sharpening of tensions” on territorial issues across the breadth of Asia with Beijing’s actions raising a question mark on the agreements of yesteryears.
Dr Jaishankar also said that it is vital in a globalised world that freedom of navigation and overflight and unimpeded commerce are respected and facilitated. He said this while speaking at the fifth Indian Ocean Conference — IOC 2021 — in Abu Dhabi.
The minister said that a couple of developments — the changing American strategic posture and the rise of China — have influenced the evolution of the Indian Ocean in recent years.
“Since 2008, we’ve witnessed a greater caution in US power projection and an effort to correct its overextension. It may have taken different forms and been articulated in very different ways but there’s larger consistency over three administrations that they themselves may not readily recognise. It is expressed in footprint and posture, terms of engagement, extent of involvement and nature of initiatives,” he was quoted as saying by news agency PTI.
Good to meet President @GotabayaR at the 5th Indian Ocean Conference. His address was a prominent feature of the inaugural session. pic.twitter.com/V2hQWQiK0D
— Dr. S. Jaishankar (@DrSJaishankar) December 4, 2021
