External Affairs Minister Sushma Swaraj on Sunday said India opposes any use or even threat of use of force by any nation in maritime navigation. During a meeting of the Asean Regional Forum in Nay Pyi Taw (Myanmar), Swaraj said India supports freedom of navigation and access to resources in the area and that the dispute must be resolved as per international law.
“Maritime territorial disputes have the potential for undermining comprehensive security and mutual confidence. India opposes the use or threat of use of force and supports freedom of navigation and access to resources in accordance with principles of international law. We hope that progress will be made with respect to implementation of Guidelines to the 2002 Declaration on the Conduct of Parties in the South China Sea and the adoption of a Code of Conduct on the basis of consensus,” Swaraj made a statement even as tensions over territorial claims in the South China Sea continue to overshadow the ASEAN and East Asia Summit in Myanmar.
China claims sovereignty over majority of South China Sea where India’s ONGC Videsh limited has operation in number of oil blocks in collaboration with Vietnam. China has been objecting to India’s oil exploration projects in the disputed waters. China has similar disputes with other ASEAN states Brunei, Malaysia, Philippines, Vietnam and Taiwan. On terrorism, Swaraj said terrorists should not find sanctuary and support in any ARF member State.
At the East Asia Summit Foreign Ministers’ Meeting, while referring to security related issues, Swaraj said non- traditional security threats such as international terrorism, piracy, trans-national crimes, drug-trafficking, maritime security and proliferation of sensitive items require a more comprehensive response from the international community. “We are seeing different theatres getting interconnected through terror networks and a globalisation of supply chains of ideology, radicalisation, recruitment, training and financing of terrorism,” she said.
India favoured a “broad-based” international investigation covering all aspects into the crash of MH17 - believed to be shot down by a missile over eastern Ukraine. “The senseless loss of lives in the crash of MH17 on July 17 has left the international community with responsibility to ensure safety of civil aviation. Parties in conflict situations must urgently abjure violence and work for diplomatic solutions. We must ensure that such a tragedy is never repeated. A broad-based international investigation must cover all aspects of this incident,” said Swaraj.
Swaraj also asked EAS to push for reform of the UN Security Council to reflect contemporary geo-political realities. “The lack of reform has affected the credibility and effectiveness of the Security Council, as seen in a number of new crises around the globe. With the 70th Anniversary Summit of the United Nations in 2015, it is more necessary than ever that multilateralism become effective and multilateral institutions, of which the UN is the first, undergo urgent reform,” the minister said.