India challenges China in the South China Sea

On November 1, Indian Defense Minister Rajnath Singh called for respect for international law and freedom of navigation and aviation in the hotly disputed waters of the East Sea.

Indian Defense Minister Rajnath Singh. (Source: India Today)

Speaking at the ASEAN Defense Ministers Meeting in Kuala Lumpur, Malaysia, Mr. Singh emphasized this issue. Citing the United Nations Convention on the Law of the Sea (UNCLOS), Mr. Singh said: "India's support for freedom of navigation and overflight in the Indo- Pacific region is not directed against any country but is aimed at protecting the collective interests of all stakeholders in the region."

Mr. Singh also asserted that India’s strategic engagement with ASEAN is not transactional but long-term and principled, based on the shared belief that the Indo- Pacific region should remain open, inclusive and free from coercion.

The Minister highlighted India’s security vision for the Indo-Pacific region that integrates defense cooperation with economic development, technology sharing and human resource development. The nexus of security, growth and sustainability shapes India’s approach to its partnership with ASEAN.

In July 2016, the Philippines won its case against China at the Permanent Court of Arbitration of the United Nations. The court ruled in favor of the Philippines, affirming that China's claim to historic rights within the "nine-dash line" has no legal basis under UNCLOS.

China, however, refuses to accept the ruling. It claims sovereignty over almost the entire South China Sea by making false island claims, including the construction of artificial islands, to dramatically extend its territorial rights right up to the doorsteps of other countries.

Source: https://baoquocte.vn/an-do-thach-thuc-trung-quoc-tai-bien-dong-333154.html