Will the Minister of EXTERNAL AFFAIRS be pleased to state:
(a) whether India’s stand on South China Sea has annoyed China;
(b) if so, the details thereof and the reasons therefor; and
(c) the details of India’s position vis-à-vis South China Sea?
Will the Minister of EXTERNAL AFFAIRS be pleased to state:
(a) whether India’s stand on South China Sea has annoyed China;
(b) if so, the details thereof and the reasons therefor; and
(c) the details of India’s position vis-à-vis South China Sea?
THE MINISTER OF STATE IN THE MINISTRY OF EXTERNAL AFFAIRS
[GEN. (DR) V. K. SINGH (RETD)]
(a) to (c) India’s position on South China Sea issue is consistent and has been reiterated bilaterally and in multilateral fora on several occasions. India supports freedom of navigation in and overflight above international waters while maintaining that sovereignty issues must be resolved peacefully in accordance with accepted principles of international law, including the United Nations’ Convention on the Law of the Sea (UNCLOS) 1982. India has taken note of the 2002 Declaration of Conduct, adopted by the Foreign Ministers of ASEAN and China at the 8th ASEAN Summit in Phnom Penh in November 2002, which inter alia states that ‘the Parties undertake to exercise self-restraint in the conduct of activities that would complicate or escalate disputes and affect peace and stability’ and ‘to resolve their territorial and jurisdictional disputes by peaceful means, without resorting to threat or use of force.’ India welcomes the collective commitment by the concerned countries to abide by and implement the 2002 Declaration on the Conduct of Parties in the South China Sea and to work towards the adoption of a Code of Conduct in the South China Sea on the basis of consensus.