Addressing the festering maritime territorial dispute in the South China Sea, Defence Minister Rajnath Singh on Saturday said India’s emphasis on upholding the rule of law was not directed against any country, but was meant to safeguard the collective interests of all countries.

Though he did not mention China by name, the reference was obvious as Beijing is locked in a dispute with five other countries — Vietnam, Malaysia, the Philippines, Brunei and Taiwan — with each having overlapping claims in the hydrocarbon‑rich South China Sea.

The minister was speaking at the ASEAN defence ministers meeting at Kuala Lumpur, Malaysia. Barring Taiwan, the other countries locked in a dispute with China are members of the ASEAN.

He referred to the United Nations Convention on the Law of the Sea, sa

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