Modi Faults China Bid To Change Status Quo, Criticises UN Failiure In Ukraine Crisis

NEW DELHI: In a thinly-veiled message aimed at China and its military assertiveness in the region, Prime Minister Narendra Modi, speaking in Hiroshima on Sunday, asked the world to “raise your voice together against unilateral attempts to change the status quo”, adding that “India has always been of the opinion that any tension, any dispute should be resolved through peaceful means, through dialogue”.

Referring to his meeting earlier on Saturday with Ukraine’s President Volodymyr Zelenskyy, Modi reiterated that he (Modi) “does not consider the current situation as an issue of politics or economy, but rather a matter of humanity and human values”.

Speaking at yet another working session on Sunday at the Hiroshima G-7 summit entitled “Toward a Peaceful, Stable and Prosperous World”, Modi called for “all countries to respect the UN Charter, international law and sovereignty and territorial integrity of all countries”, a comment seen as support for Ukraine’s territorial integrity without naming India’s time-tested friend and close strategic partner Russia.

Modi also lashed out at the United Nations for its failure to prevent conflicts and strongly pressed for reform of the world body, adding that if this was not done, the UN and its Security Council would just become a “talk shop”. Reiterating that dialogue and diplomacy was the only way to end the Ukraine conflict, Modi pointed out that “global peace, stability, and prosperity is our common objective”, adding that “developing countries are the worst affected” due to the “food, fuel, and fertiliser crisis”.

He referred to Lord Buddha’s teachings that enmity should be replaced with affinity.

In his address, Modi said: “It is necessary that all countries respect the UN Charter, international law and the sovereignty and territorial integrity of all countries. Raise your voice together against unilateral attempts to change the status quo. India has always been of the opinion that any tension, any dispute should be resolved through peaceful means, through dialogue. And if there is a solution from the law, then it should be accepted. And it was in this spirit that India resolved its land and maritime boundary dispute with Bangladesh.”

Modi further said: “We heard President Zelenskyy today. I also met him yesterday. I do not consider the current situation as an issue of politics or economy. I believe that this is a matter of humanity, a matter of human values. From the very beginning, we have maintained that dialogue and diplomacy is the only way. And we will make every possible effort to contribute, in whatever way India can, for resolving this situation. Global peace, stability, and prosperity is our common objective. In today's inter-connected world, crises in any one region affect all countries. And the developing countries, which have limited resources, are the worst affected. In the current global situation, these countries are facing the maximum and most profound impact of the food, fuel and fertiliser crisis.”

The PM said: “It raises the question as to why we are facing the need to discuss matters of peace and stability in distinct forums. The United Nations was established with the very purpose of establishing peace… why does it often fail to prevent conflicts today? Why, even the definition of terrorism has not been accepted in the UN yet? If introspection is done, then one thing is clear. The institutions created in the last century are not in line with the system of the twenty-first century. They do not reflect the realities of the present. That is why it is necessary that reforms should be given concrete shape in big institutions like the UN. It will also have to become the voice of the Global South. Otherwise, we will just keep talking about ending conflict. The UN and the Security Council will become just a talk shop.”

Modi, referring to the teachings of Lord Buddha, said: “There is no such problem in the modern age whose solution we cannot find in the teachings of the Buddha (who had) given the solution centuries ago to the war, unrest, and instability that the world is facing today”.

He added: “Lord Buddha had said: ‘Enmity does not calm enmity. Enmity is pacified by affinity.’ It is in this spirit (that) we should move forward together with everyone.”