A free, open, and rule-based maritime order is a priority for all and “might is right” has no place in such a maritime order, Defence Minister Rajnath Singh said on Monday. His comments come against the backdrop of growing Chinese assertiveness in the South China Sea and rapid expansion of maritime presence by Beijing in the Indian Ocean Region (IOR).
Mr. Singh said that establishing multinational collaborative frameworks was a must to tackle the maritime challenges of the region.
He was addressing the fourth edition of the biennial Goa Maritime Conclave (GMC), which brought together chiefs of Navies and heads of maritime agencies of 12 countries in the IOR.
