South China Sea: India's Stand on South China Sea
The East Sea/South China sea's geopolitics have an old as well as contemporary significance.In the context of the emergence of China and India for many years,the East Sea/South China sea-ES/SCS has become the region competition between,among others,these two countries.In fact,India has important interests in the ES/SCS.India's eastern neighbour,became an important factor in China's strategic calculations.Myanmar's strategic location on a trijunction between South Asia,Southeast Asia and China is nevertheless economically and strategically significant.Myanmar is economically important for China as a trading outlet to the Indian Ocean for its landlocked inland provinces to Yunnan and Sichuan.Myanmar is strategically important to China to get strategic presence in the Indian Ocean and its long-term two-ocean objective.Myanmar agreed to allow China to build a monitoring facility in the Coco Islands,which is just 23 nautical miles away from the Landfall Island of India's Andaman group of Islands.Diplomatic observers indicated in India that China's String of Pearls,which is asserted by many Indians that the string was built to lay a siege to and restraint India.To partly implement this strategy,China is to have presence at ports of Sittwe/Myanmar,Chittagong/Bangladesh,Hambantota/Sri Lanka and Gwadar port/Pakistan surrounding India.
India has also other strategic and political interests in the ES/SCS,that is to secure the freedom of navigation in the region to order to promote its political,military,economic and cultural cooperation with the East Asia region.India has also joined dialogue fora and security cooperation mechanisms in the Asia-Pacific region.In last years,India became a member of Asean Regional Forum-ARF which has been seen as potential important forum for peace,security and stability of the region and membership of ARF would provide India with a participation in political and security dialogue in Asia-Pacific and contribute to India's stability.Besides the political,security,trade and connectivity significance,the ES/SCS is also one of the destinations for India's efforts to search for new energy sources.China has objected to the presence of the Indian navy in the South China Sea in last years just before the visit of two Indian ships INS Kora and INS Delhi to the port of Shanghai though a warm welcome was accorded to the Indian Navy.India for the first time raised its voice on maritime security and approaching methods to maintain maritime security in Asia-Pacific in talks with first annual summit in Hanoi in last years.The security of sea lanes of communication is vital today's world.
India expressed the consistency in its stand on ES/SCS disputes when it definitively affirmed that China's sovereignty claim in Exclusive Economic Zone-EEZ of Vietnam in the ES/SCS.China's objections to ONGC Videsh-OVLs oil and gas exploration in Vietnam's EEZ have no legal basis as the blocks belongs to Vietnam.India has strongly affirmed to protect its interests in the ES/SCS.In a new development,the Indian navy confirmed its interests for sending force to protect Indian interests in the ES/SCS when Indian navy chief indicated in 2012 that India's main concern was the freedom of navigation in international waters in the ES/SCS and ONGC Videsh has three oil exploration blocks there in Vietnam.India and other countries outside the region keep their oil and gas exploration activities in the ES/SCS.India's consistency in expressing its stand on the ES/SCS disputes demonstrates that it is ready for the role and position of a responsible power of the world.$1.2 trillion in US-trade is transported through the South China sea each year.India has political,strategic and economic interests in the ES/SCS.India's stand on south china sea disputes is clear.It supports to resolve the disputes through peaceful solutions in accordance with international law including the UNCLOS 1982,and DOC 2002.India has also asserted to portect its interests in the South China sea including among others,the freedom of navigation in international waters and its legal oil and gas exploration in the EEZ's partners in the south china sea.India has even prepared for sending naval force to protect its interests in the region.
Anil Kumar Upadhyaya
Date- 17th December,2014
Place-New Delhi
