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OPINION JUNE 21, 2024 | The Indian Eye 10

Shangri-La Dialogue 2024: Balance

of Power or Display of Power?

The 2024 Shangri-La Dialogue witnessed intense discussions on regional security dynamics

and heated debates between the USA, China and the Philippines. In addition, a number of

issues vital to India’s interests in the Indo-Pacific were also discussed

DR SHUSHANT VC PARASHAR

resident Ferdinand Marcos Jr.
of the Philippines delivered a
Pkeynote address of profound
significance at the 21st edition of the
International Institute for Strategic
Studies (IISS) Shangri-La Dialogue.
His speech, a powerful testament to
the Philippines’ unwavering commit-
ment to peace and stability, under-
scored the importance of ASEAN
centrality and the rule of law. He also
highlighted the pivotal role of middle
powers in maintaining regional stabil-
ity and expressed the country’s intent
to pursue robust collaboration with
India and other nations.
The Philippines President went
on to declare that the killing of Fil-
ipinos would verge on an “act of
war.” Concurrently, US INDOPA-
COM Commander Admiral Samuel
Paparo emphasized the importance
of deterrence as a duty, highlighting
military, economic and diplomat-
ic dimensions. The admiral further
stressed the role of reassurance in
building trust and confidence among The United States and China are striving to stabilize their relations, yet numerous factors fuel concerns about an inevitable confrontation in the
allies and partners and, in the pro-
cess, countered claims made by a South China Sea over Taiwan (File photo/Agency)
former Chinese envoy to the United
States, Cui Tiankai, who stated that rity, highlighting the tension and defense cooperation, leading by ex- future enactment of a new maritime
the necessity of deterrence needs to complexity of the region’s security ample in maritime security cooper- zones law.
be opposed, advocating for coopera- landscape. On June 1, U.S. Defense ation and improving governance in Thailand called for enhanced
tion to prevent conflict. Secretary Lloyd Austin outlined a newly emerging security domains), cooperation between ASEAN-led
Newly elected Indonesian Pres- vision of increased connectivity with warning about Taiwan’s situation and frameworks and organizations like
ident Prabowo Subianto introduced Europe and the Middle East, under- cautioning against provocations in IORA, BIMSTEC, PIF, and the
a comprehensive Peace Plan on the lining upcoming initiatives such as a the South China Sea. Mekong Cooperation Framework.
Israel-Gaza conflict, reiterating his trilateral U.S.-Japan-ROK military It highlighted the importance of im-
call for peace between Russia and exercise plan and establishing a new Fundamental Datapoints from proving maritime domain awareness
Ukraine amidst their ongoing war. regional defense industrial base. an ASEAN Perspective (MDA) in search and rescue, hu-
Meanwhile, Ukrainian President After that, Chinese Defense manitarian assistance and disaster
Volodymyr Zelenskyy urged global Minister Dong Jun articulated Chi- he Philippines emphasized the relief (HADR), climate change, and
leaders to participate in the forth- na’s regional security framework necessity of amplifying ASE- environmental degradation. Fur-
coming Peace Summit on June 15-16 through a six-point plan (the plan TAN voices in the Indo-Pacific, thermore, Thailand underscored the
in Switzerland, emphasizing the ur- consists of defending the legitimate particularly regarding issues such as advancement of a maritime security
gency of collective action to resolve security interests of all nations, work- lethal autonomous weapons, space, roadmap in collaboration with the
current conflicts. ing together to build a just and rea- and cyber domains. It also announced US through the ASEAN Defense
At the dialogue, China and the sonable international order, utilizing its pursuit of a non-permanent seat Ministers’ Meeting (ADMM) Plus
United States presented starkly the framework for regional security, on the United Nations Security Working Group for 2021-2024.
contrasting visions for Asia’s secu- promoting transparent and practical Council for the 2027-28 term and the

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