PM for consensus to resolve South China Sea row

Prime Minister Narendra Modi made a passing reference to the disputes in the South China Sea in his address at the Association of Southeast Asia Nations (ASEAN)-India Summit here on Saturday.

“India hopes all parties to the disputes in the South China Sea will abide by the guidelines on the implementation of the Declaration on the Conduct of Parties in the South China Sea, and redouble efforts for early adoption of a Code of Conduct on the basis of consensus,” he said.

Mr. Modi also emphasised the need for evolving specific plans of cooperation in maritime security, counter-piracy and humanitarian and disaster relief. Ministry of External Affairs spokesperson Vikas Swaroop said the South China Sea issue also figured at the talks between Mr. Modi and Japan’s Prime Minister Shinzo Abe on Saturday. He, however, said the issue did not figure at the talks between the Prime Minister and his Chinese counterpart Li Keqiang.

Mr. Swaroop said the Prime Ministers of India and China reviewed the issues pertaining to global economic slowdown, climate change and the growing terrorism activities. Expansion of trade and economic partnership, besides tourism, were also discussed. Both leaders felt Asia would be more secure if India and China came together to counter terrorism.

At the meeting with Mr. Abe, Mr. Modi was stated to have observed that the issues over right of passage and access to resources envisaged in the 1982 United Nations Convention on the Law of Sea should be amicably resolved. And a code of conduct should be accepted on the basis of consensus.

PM stresses the need for evolving specific plans of cooperation in maritime security

Data that may be helpful:

Important Points :-

• Japan’s Prime Minister :- Shinzo Abe
• The United Nations Convention on the Law of the Sea (UNCLOS), also called the Law of the Sea Convention or the Law of the Sea treaty, is the international agreement that resulted from the third United Nations Conference on the Law of the Sea (UNCLOS III), which took place between 1973 and 1982. The Law of the Sea Convention defines the rights and responsibilities of nations with respect to their use of the world's oceans, establishing guidelines for businesses, the environment, and the management of marine natural resources

Source :- The Hindu, 22-Nov-2015