India today stressed that international waterways must remain safe and unblocked and called for dialogue and diplomacy to end the West Asia conflict.
Addressing the 21st East Asia Summit, EAS in Manila, External Affairs Minister Dr S Jaishankar said that attacks on seafarers, civilian shipping or infrastructure cannot be condoned under any circumstance.
The Minister said that the global order is uncertain and volatile where interdependence and common interests co-exist with competitiveness and rivalries.
Dr Jaishankar also highlighted that the world economy is reeling under the impact of multiple conflicts and underlined India’s commitment to ASEAN centrality, regional stability and the realization of a free, open and prosperous Indo-Pacific.
On the South China Sea, the Minister extended India’s support for the conclusion of a substantive, effective and legally binding Code of Conduct fully compliant with UNCLOS 1982 that does not prejudice the legitimate rights of all users.
To recall, the United Nations Convention on the Law of the Sea treaty of 1982 has clear set of rules for ocean use, maritime zones (like 200-mile Exclusive Economic Zones), and resource rights.
With regard to the South China Sea, it provides the legal yardstick used by Southeast Asian nations to challenge China’s expansive “nine-dash line” claims and maritime boundaries.
An international tribunal ruled in 2016 that China’s historic claims inside the nine-dash line conflict with and are superseded by UNCLOS rules.
China ratified the treaty but rejects the 2016 arbitration outcome, asserting historic rights over the area.
Countries like the Philippines and Vietnam use UNCLOS to defend their local fishing and drilling rights
Dr Jaishankar also reaffirmed India’s stand for finding a political solution to the Myanmar issue.
India will be hosting two specific EAS activities this year.
The conferences are the 7th EAS Conference on Maritime Security Cooperation in Kochi and an EAS Maritime Heritage Festival in the ancient port city of Lothal.
