India’s emphasis on the rule of law and its advocacy for freedom of navigation and overflight in the Indo-Pacific are not directed against any country but are meant to safeguard the collective interests of all regional stakeholders, Defence Minister Rajnath Singh said Saturday.

Addressing the forum on ‘Reflection on 15 Years of ADMM-Plus and Charting a Way Forward’ in Kuala Lumpur, he asserted that India’s strategic engagement with ASEAN is not transactional but long-term and principle-driven, resting on a shared belief that the Indo-Pacific should remain open, inclusive, and free from coercion.

Singh’s comments came during his address at the conclave of defence ministers of ASEAN member states and their dialogue partners, amid concerns over an increased Chinese presence in the region.

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