Indo-Pacific a divisive concept meant to contain China: Russia

Describing the Indo-Pacific as a divisive concept, Russian foreign minister Sergey Lavrov on Wednesday said the initiative was meant to contain China.
The new Indo-Pacific concept being pushed by the US, Japan and others was an attempt to reconfigure the existing structure, he said. “Why do you need to call Asia Pacific Indo-Pacific? The answer is evident — to exclude China. Terminology should be unifying, not divisive. Neither SCO nor Brics is exclusionary,” Lavrov said. The Russian minister also backed India and Brazil to be permanent members of the UN Security Council.
Speaking at the Raisina Dialogue, he also said an equitable democratic order should not be influenced by use of brutal force. “When we asked the initiators how Indo-Pacific is different from Asia Pacific, we were told it is more democratic. We dont think so. It is rather tricky. We have to be careful about the terminology which looks benign but is not,” he said.
The Indo-Pacific has been a major focus area of Indias foreign policy in the last few years as the country pushes for peace and stability in the region.
Lavrov later called on PM Narendra Modi and conveyed to him that President Vladimir Putin lRead More – Source

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