Prime Minister Narendra Modi Wednesday said India supports a “policy of development and not expansionism”, a remark that appeared directed at China as he wrapped up a bilateral visit to Brunei, where the two countries also reiterated their commitment to “freedom of navigation” in the region. India and Brunei elevated their ties to “enhanced partnership” as Prime Minister Modi held wide-ranging talks with Sultan Hassanal Bolkiah covering defence, trade and investment.
“We support the policy of development, and not expansionism,” Prime Minister Modi said at a banquet hosted by Sultan Bolkiah, without naming any country.
China is engaged in hotly contested territorial disputes in the South China Sea (SCS) and the East China Sea (ECS). China claims most of the South China Sea, while the Philippines, Malaysia, Vietnam, Brunei and Taiwan have counterclaims.
“We agree that a Code of Conduct should be finalised in this region,” Modi said, adding that India has always given priority to ASEAN Centrality and will continue to do so.
“We support freedom of navigation and overflight under international laws like UNCLOS (United Nations Convention on the Law of the Sea),” said Modi, the first Indian Prime Minister to travel to Brunei on a bilateral visit.
A joint statement issued after their talks said both leaders “reiterated their commitment to maintaining and promoting peace, stability, maritime safety and security, as well as respecting freedom of navigation and overflight and unimpeded lawful commerce, consistent with international law, notably the UN Convention on the Law of the Sea (UNCLOS) 1982.”
