China's map to be discussed at Asean

NEW DELHI: The publication of an official map by China depicting India’s northeastern state of Arunachal Pradesh and disputed maritime regions in the South China Sea as its territory is likely to be discussed at the ASEAN-India and East Asia Summits in Indonesia’s Jakarta on Thursday. The Centre indicated that “issues of mutual concern” would come up at the summit, where Prime Minister Narendra Modi will represent India.

New Delhi had earlier lodged a protest with Beijing over the map. According to recent media reports, three ASEAN member countries — The Philippines, Malaysia and Vietnam — also opposed the Chinese map. The ASEAN union has ten member countries.

“The host nation for the summits, Indonesia was ‘kind enough’ to advance the timings of the East Asia Summit for Modi to attend both the summits and head back to India, where the G20 Summit will start in New Delhi on Saturday,” MEA secretary (east) Saurabh Kumar said at a media briefing, ahead of the Prime Minister’s two-day visit to Jakarta starting Wednesday.

Owing to Modi’s tight schedule, there will be no bilateral meetings between Modi and other leaders on the sidelines of the two summits to ensure his quick return to India, Saurabh Kumar stated.

The ASEAN outlook on the Indo-Pacific and India’s long-standing support for the centrality of ASEAN in the architecture of the Indo-Pacific is expected to be discussed at the ASEAN-India Summit, along with trade ties between India and the member nations of the ASEAN union.

Meanwhile, the East Asia Summit will see the participation of the ASEAN bloc and eight other partner nations, including India, the United States, Russia, China, Australia, New Zealand, Japan and South Korea. The US will be represented by vice-president Kamala Harris in Jakarta.

“Prime Minister Narendra Modi will travel to Jakarta on September 6 and 7 at the invitation of Indonesian President Joko Widodo. During his visit, the Prime Minister will attend the 20th ASEAN-India Summit and the 18th East Asia Summit hosted by Indonesia, the current chair of the ASEAN bloc. The upcoming ASEAN-India summit will be the first meeting since the elevation of ties between the bloc and India to a comprehensive strategic partnership in 2022,” stated a release issued by New Delhi.

Meanwhile, US President Joe Biden will land in New Delhi late on Thursday. Biden and his wife, First Lady Jill Biden, have tested positive for Covid-19.