A statement of the central government has brought tension in India-ASEAN relations. Taking a dig at the government by Commerce Minister Piyush Goyal’s ‘B Team of China’ statement, the Congress has called the government another setback for Indian diplomacy.
Congress General Secretary Jairam Ramesh on Tuesday shared a media report on the social media platform X (East Twitter) and targeted the central government. According to the report, the ASEAN co-chairman involved in the review of the Indo-ASEAN Free Trade Agreement (FTA) has expressed dissatisfaction over Goyal’s recent remarks. Goyal called the South-East Asian countries a ‘B team of China’.
Jairam Ramesh wrote in his post that India has historical, cultural, economic and political deep relations with 10 ASEAN countries such as Brunei, Cambodia, Indonesia, Laos, Malaysia, Myanmar, Philippines, Singapore, Thailand and Vietnam. The joint economy of this organization, nearly 60 years old, is only slightly lower than India. In such a situation, it is unfortunate for the Commerce Minister to call these countries ‘China’s B team’. Now ASEAN has also reacted strongly. This is another shock to Indian diplomacy, which could be completely avoided.
India has very close civilizational, cultural, economic, and political ties with the 10-nation asean group– BRUNI, Cambodia, Indonesia, Laos, Malaysia, Myanmar, Philippines, Singapines, Singapore, Singapore, SINGAPARE, SINGAPARE, SINGAPARE, SINGAPARES, and Vietnam. Asean, That Came into Being Almost Six Decades Back, Has a Combined GDP… pic.twitter.com/x7rmpc1bkq
– jairam ramesh (@Jairam_ramesh) June 24, 2025
Jairam Ramesh wrote in his post that India has historical, cultural, economic and political deep relations with 10 ASEAN countries such as Brunei, Cambodia, Indonesia, Laos, Malaysia, Myanmar, Philippines, Singapore, Thailand and Vietnam. The joint economy of this organization, nearly 60 years old, is only slightly lower than India. In such a situation, it is unfortunate for the Commerce Minister to call these countries ‘China’s B team’. Now ASEAN has also reacted strongly. This is another shock to Indian diplomacy, which could be completely avoided.
The Congress immediately reacted to Goyal’s statement. Party spokesperson Anand Sharma called it ‘irresponsible and abusive’, saying that such statements were about to weaken India-ASEAN trade agreements. Anand Sharma had said that this statement could harm the years old faith and partnership of India and ASEAN countries. The government should talk responsibly, not such a language that hurts our neighbors.