Global waterways should be safe, unimpeded: Jaishankar

• At the 21st East Asia Summit (EAS) in Manila, EAM S. Jaishankar asserted that global maritime channels "must remain safe and unimpeded," directly addressing attacks on seafarers and shipping in the Persian Gulf/West Asia region. [S1]
• Statement links India's Indo-Pacific maritime posture, UNCLOS-based order, and its South China Sea Code of Conduct (CoC) stance — a recurring GS-II/III theme on India's multilateral maritime diplomacy. [S1][S4]
• India announced it will host two EAS maritime activities in 2026: the 7th EAS Conference on Maritime Security Cooperation (Kochi) and an EAS Maritime Heritage Festival (Lothal). [S1]
• Relevant for Prelims (EAS composition, UNCLOS, CoC) and Mains (India's maritime diplomacy, West Asia crisis, ASEAN centrality).

2. Why in the News

• Jaishankar's remarks at the 21st EAS in Manila (Thursday, 23 July 2026) condemning attacks on seafarers, civilian shipping and infrastructure amid the Persian Gulf/Iran-linked crisis; MEA separately responded to comments by Pakistan's Deputy PM. [S1]

3. Background & Evolution

• East Asia Summit (EAS): premier Asia-Pacific leaders-led forum for strategic dialogue on political, security and economic issues; India has been a member since inception (2005). [S1]
• South China Sea Code of Conduct (CoC): under negotiation between ASEAN and China for over two decades; expected finalisation targeted at the 49th ASEAN Summit, Manila, November 2026, though geographic scope, legal status and enforcement remain unresolved. [S3]
• India previously (20th EAS, Kuala Lumpur, October 2025) proposed the Maritime Heritage Festival idea and reaffirmed commitment under the ASEAN Outlook on the Indo-Pacific and UNCLOS (1982); 2026 declared the ASEAN-India Year of Maritime Cooperation. [S2]
• India has separately hosted EAS Conferences on Maritime Security Cooperation in prior editions (6th edition referenced by MEA). [S2]

4. Core Static Facts

5. Multi-Dimensional Analysis

Geopolitical/Strategic - India positions itself as a stakeholder in freedom of navigation across both West Asian (Persian Gulf/Strait of Hormuz-adjacent) and East/South China Sea waterways — linking energy security to maritime law. [S1] - Reflects India's balancing act: engaging ASEAN on CoC while avoiding direct confrontation with China. [S3]

Legal/Constitutional (International Law) - Repeated invocation of UNCLOS as the basis for a "legally binding" CoC signals India's consistent multilateral-law-first approach, distinct from bilateral coercive approaches. [S1][S3]

Economic - Safety of "global waterways" ties to global shipping/energy trade routes; disruption in Persian Gulf raises freight and crude-oil transit risk for India, a major crude importer. [S1]

Administrative/Diplomatic - India using EAS as a platform to host recurring maritime security dialogues (Kochi) and cultural-heritage diplomacy (Lothal, an ancient Harappan port city) — soft-power plus hard-security tracks. [S1]

Historical - Lothal's selection for the Maritime Heritage Festival links India's ancient maritime trade legacy (Indus Valley/Harappan port) to contemporary Indo-Pacific diplomacy. [S1]

6. Recent Developments (last 12-18 months)

• 23 July 2026: Jaishankar's "safe and unimpeded" waterways statement at 21st EAS, Manila; MEA rebuts Pakistan Deputy PM's comments. [S1]
• 21-22 July 2026: Southeast Asian top diplomats hold security talks in Manila amid US-Iran fighting. [S3]
• 22 July 2026: Reports indicate South China Sea CoC targeted for finalisation at November 2026 ASEAN Summit, Manila. [S3]
• October 2025: 20th EAS, Kuala Lumpur — Jaishankar calls for zero tolerance on terrorism, warns of supply-chain fragility, proposes Maritime Heritage Festival; 2026 declared ASEAN-India Year of Maritime Cooperation. [S2]

7. Prelims Hooks

• 21st East Asia Summit held in Manila, Philippines, in July 2026. [S1]
• India will host the 7th EAS Conference on Maritime Security Cooperation in Kochi in 2026. [S1]
• India will host an EAS Maritime Heritage Festival in Lothal, an ancient port city (Indus Valley Civilization site). [S1]
• Myanmar's military junta took power in February 2021; opposed by Ethnic Armed Organisations (EAOs). [S1]
• India backs a "substantive, effective and legally binding" South China Sea Code of Conduct. [S1]
• The South China Sea CoC is expected to be discussed for finalisation at the 49th ASEAN Summit, Manila, November 2026. [S3]
• 2026 has been designated the ASEAN-India Year of Maritime Cooperation. [S2]
• India's Indo-Pacific maritime commitments are anchored in the ASEAN Outlook on the Indo-Pacific and UNCLOS, 1982. [S2]
• EAS is a leaders-led forum; External Affairs Minister S. Jaishankar represented India at the 21st edition. [S1]
• MEA responded/rebutted comments made by Pakistan's Deputy Prime Minister around the same EAS session. [S1]

8. Mains Relevance

• GS-II: India and its neighbourhood; bilateral/regional/global groupings (ASEAN, EAS); international institutions/agreements (UNCLOS, CoC).
• GS-III: Security challenges — maritime security, piracy/attacks on shipping; internal security linkages via West Asia energy dependence.
• Possible question stems: 1. "Discuss the significance of freedom of navigation in global waterways for India's strategic and economic interests, with reference to recent developments in the Persian Gulf and South China Sea." (GS-II/III) 2. "Examine India's role in shaping a legally binding Code of Conduct for the South China Sea through the East Asia Summit framework." (GS-II) 3. "How does the crisis in Myanmar test ASEAN centrality and India's 'Act East' policy?" (GS-II)

9. Related Topics to Study Next

• East Asia Summit (EAS) — institutional architecture, membership, India's Act East Policy linkage.
• UNCLOS, 1982 — legal basis for maritime zones and freedom of navigation.
• South China Sea dispute & ASEAN-China CoC negotiations — long-running territorial/legal contestation.
• India's Act East Policy / Indo-Pacific strategy — broader strategic framing.
• Myanmar political crisis (post-Feb 2021 coup) — regional stability, refugee/border implications for India.
• Strait of Hormuz / Persian Gulf security — India's energy security exposure.
• Lothal (Harappan port city) & Maritime Heritage — cultural-historical tie-in, also relevant to National Maritime Heritage Complex project.
• Quad and Indo-Pacific Oceans Initiative (IPOI) — parallel maritime security architecture.

10. Common Errors / Trap Areas

• Do not confuse EAS (East Asia Summit) with ASEAN Summit — EAS is a broader 18-member forum (ASEAN+8), while the CoC finalisation target is tied to the ASEAN Summit (49th, November 2026), not EAS. [S3]
• Kochi hosts the Maritime Security Cooperation conference; Lothal hosts the Maritime Heritage Festival — don't swap the two venues. [S1]
• Myanmar coup year is 2021, not 2020 or 2022 — commonly misremembered. [S1]
• UNCLOS was adopted in 1982, not to be confused with its entry into force year (1994). [S2]
• "ASEAN-India Year of Maritime Cooperation" is designated for 2026, distinct from other India-ASEAN commemorative years. [S2]

11. Sources

• [S1] Today's Paper article, "Global waterways should be safe, unimpeded: Jaishankar," The Hindu, 24 July 2026 — https://www.thehindu.com/todays-paper/2026-07-24/th_chennai/articleGT5G9V20D-15612416.ece — (tier: 4)
• [S2] "EAM Jaishankar calls for global zero tolerance on terrorism at East Asia Summit," News on Air (govt. broadcaster), 27 October 2025 — https://www.newsonair.gov.in/eam-jaishankar-calls-for-global-zero-tolerance-on-terrorism-at-east-asia-summit — (tier: 1)
• [S3] "South China Sea Code of Conduct set for November Asean Summit," Free Malaysia Today, 22 July 2026 — https://www.freemalaysiatoday.com/category/world/2026/07/22/south-china-sea-code-of-conduct-set-for-november-asean-summit — (tier: 4)
• [S4] "International waterways must remain safe and unimpeded: EAM Jaishankar condemns attacks on seafarers in West Asia," ANI, 23 July 2026 — https://aninews.in/news/world/asia/international-waterways-must-remain-safe-and-unimpeded-eam-jaishankar-condemns-attacks-on-seafarers-in-west-asia20260723223210/ — (tier: 4)