Vol 8 No 5 May 2022 I NSIGHT

The polarization between Russia and the West, two sides exchanged views on a number of compelling many countries like India and issues including cooperation within G20 the Southeast Asian nations to maintain a and global developments. [...] Singapore has The US recognizes the significance of the emerged as one of the most formidable strategic region of Southeast Asia and this military forces in Southeast Asia, especially may be seen as an attempt to reassure the in context to defence spending and military bloc’s leaders of continued US technology. [...] The Philippines stand-off with Cooperation in Indo-Pacific China over disputed islands (Scarborough The two countries held the seventh round of shoal) in the South China Sea indicated foreign office consultations on 14 April, China’s expansionist posture in the region. [...] He also met April, 2022 on a range of issues including Japanese investors and said that the crisis in Ukraine and the prevailing cooperation with Japan will be a ‘core situation in the South China Sea. [...] The two sides main claimants in the South China Sea agreed to deepen bilateral relations, dispute and has also been at odds with especially in areas of defence and security, China over maritime incursions into its health, and connectivity.