New Delhi
Prime Minister Narendra Modi and his Australian counterpart Scott Morrison called for an effective “Code of Conduct” in the South China Sea, which is fully consistent with international law.
“Leaders underlined the importance of being able to exercise rights and freedoms in all seas and oceans of the Indo-Pacific region, consistent with international law, particularly the UN Convention on the Law of the Sea (UNCLOS), including freedom of navigation and overflight,” the Ministry of External Affairs (MEA) said in a joint statement.
Both the leaders emphasised that resolution of disputes should be carried out through peaceful means in accordance with international law without threat or use of force or any attempt to unilaterally change status quo and that countries should exercise self-restraint in the conduct of activities that could complicate or escalate disputes affecting peace and stability, added the statement.
The leaders reiterated the importance of adherence to international law, particularly as reflected in the UN Convention on the Law of the Sea (UNCLOS), to meet challenges to the maritime rules-based order, including in the South China Sea, the MEA statement read.
“They called for any Code of Conduct in the South China Sea to be effective, substantive and fully consistent with international law, not prejudice the legitimate rights and interests of any nation, including those not party to these negotiations, under international law and support existing inclusive regional architecture,” the MEA statement said.
Tensions in the South China Sea area have continued to rise in the context of China’s naval expansion and the establishment of military outposts on illegally built artificial islands.
The “nine-dash line” claim that China has unilaterally and illegally made, covering almost the entire South China Sea area, has been clearly rejected by the international community.
