India, China talk maritime security

Amid enduring tensions over the South China Sea, India and China on Thursday held the inaugural round of talks on maritime cooperation.

The dialogue here covered a range of issues of mutual interest, including exchange of perspectives on maritime security and prospects for maritime cooperation between the two countries, the MEA said. It said developments in international regimes such as UN Convention on the Law of the Sea and IMO International Maritime Organisation also figured in the discussions. The Indian delegation was led by Amandeep Singh Gill, joint secretary (disarmament and international security affairs) in the MEA, while the Chinese delegation was led by Kong Xuanyou, assistant minister of the ministry of foreign affairs of China, according to agency reports. The next round will be held in Beijing on a mutually convenient date, the MEA said. The dialogue assumes significance as China has been critical of oil and gas exploration projects by Indian companies in South China Sea.

China has an acrimonious relationship with a number of countries in south-east Asia including Vietnam over the South China Sea.

India has been supporting freedom of navigation and access to resources in the South China Sea in accordance with principles of international law, including the 1982 UN Convention on the Law of the Sea.

However, China has been insisting on outstanding issues being resolved bilaterally. India has been concerned over Chinese forays into the Indian Ocean and docking of its nuclear submarines in Sri Lanka and Pakistan.