In the wake of the recent India-ASEAN commemorative summit to mark the 25th anniversary of India-ASEAN relations, the Indian government said early this week that it is ready to pursue defense cooperation with the Philippines and its neighbors in the South China Sea (SCS). A Plan of Action for India-ASEAN Cooperation for 2016 to 2020 was signed at the summit in New Delhi last month, which President Duterte and other ASEAN leaders attended. Pritee Saran, secretary for East Asia of the Indian Ministry of External Affairs, cited the need for military cooperation, including joint exercises.

India takes a stand for peace in SCS. (2018, February 9). Manila Bulletin, p. 8.