"World Must Protect Oceans From Race For "Expansion, Exclusion": PM At UN

India, the US and several world powers have been talking about need to ensure a free Indo-Pacific in the backdrop of China's military manoeuvring

Prime Minister Narendra Modi said today that the world must protect the oceans from the race for "expansion and exclusion" as he urged the international community to speak in one voice to strengthen a rules-based world order, in an apparent reference to China which is flexing military muscles in the Indo-Pacific.

Addressing the 76th UN General Assembly session here, Prime Minister Modi described the oceans as "our shared heritage" and said "we must keep in mind that we must only use ocean resources and not abuse them further".

"Our oceans are also the lifeline of international trade. We must protect them from the race for expansion and exclusion. The international community must speak in one voice to strengthen a rules-based world order," he added.

Speaking in Hindi, Mr Modi said that the broad consensus reached in the UN Security Council during India's presidency in August showed to the world the way forward for maritime security.