Conclude SCS code of conduct early, says India

India on Wednesday sought early conclusion of a code of conduct by consensus for the strategic South China Sea, as defence ministers of Asia-Pacific met here amid concerns over rising assertiveness by China in the disputed waters.

Defence minister Manohar Parrikar underlined the importance of freedom of navigation in international waters, the right of passage and overflight, besides unimpeded commerce and access to resources as per established international law.

Addressing the 3rd ASEAN defence ministers’ meeting here, he hoped that all parties to the disputes in the South China Sea region will abide by the 2002 Declaration on the Conduct of Parties in the South China Sea and that all will ensure its effective implementation and work together to ensure a peaceful resolution of disputes.

Mr Parrikar said the situation in the South China Sea and recent developments there have attracted “interest and concern.”

“This is natural since freedom of navigation in international waters, the right of passage and overflight, unimpeded commerce and access to resources in accordance with recognised principles of international law including the 1982 UN Convention on the Law of the Sea, are of concern to all of us,” he said in his address. He added that India hoped that the Code of Conduct on the SCS would be concluded at an early date by consensus.

India is concerned over freedom of navigation as almost all of its two-way trade with countries to its east passes through these waters. Mr Parrikar stressed that maritime security is a common challenge. “The seas and oceans in our region are critical enablers of our prosperity,” he said. Defence ministers from the 10-country Association of Southeast Asian Nations met here for the annual meeting with regional partners, including the US and China. China claims sovereignty on almost all of the South China Sea, which is firmly opposed by Vietnam, the Philippines, Malaysia, Brunei and Taiwan.

The five countries are backed by the US in staking their claims countering that of China. Sino-US friction over the issue has spiked since last week, when the US Navy’s guided missile destroyer USS Lassen sailed within 12 nautical miles of at least one of the land format ions in the disputed Spratly Islands.