India urges Beijing to respect tribunal ruling on S China Sea

As a state party to the United Nations Convention on the Law of the Sea, India urges all parties to show utmost respect for the UNCLOS, which establishes the international legal order of the seas and oceans

NEW DELHI: India on Tuesday urged China not to reject a United Nations-backed tribunal’s ruling that Beijing has no legal basis to claim “historic rights” to islands in the South China Sea.

The statement issued by the external affairs ministry on the tribunal’s award contained no reference to China, but there were no prizes for guessing who it referred to.

“…As a State Party to the UNCLOS, (United Nations Convention on the Law of the Sea) India urges all parties to show utmost respect for the UNCLOS, which establishes the international legal order of the seas and oceans,” external affairs ministry said in a statement.

The words ”utmost respect” stood out in the statement, which came four hours after the external affairs ministry issued the first missive saying it was “carefully MEA STATEMENT

studying” the award.

China dismissed the order as null and void, saying it neither accepts nor recognizes the award. The hard-hitting judgment said China’s claims to historic rights under the “nine dash line” were contrary to the UN Convention on the Law of the Seas. It added that China had no entitlement to an economic zone within 200 miles of Mischief Reef or Thomas Shoal.

India said it supports freedom of navigation and over flight, and unimpeded commerce, based on the principles of international law, as reflected notably in the UNCLOS.

One subtext is to highlight how China is not playing by international rules. It shows China’s double standard of insisting on sticking to the rules on India’s membership to the Nuclear Suppliers’ Group (NSG) but ignoring its treaty obligations when it comes to the UN-backed tribunal’s orders.

“India believes that states should resolve disputes through peaceful means without threat or use of force and exercise self-restraint in the conduct of activities that could complicate or escalate disputes affecting peace and stability,” the statement said.

“Sea lanes of communication passing through the South China Sea are critical for peace, stability, prosperity and development,” India said.