India for rivalry-free sea lanes

Port Moresby, April 28

Amid concerns over China’s maritime assertiveness, India today called for freedom of navigation saying sea lanes of communications should be devoid of tension and rivalry.

“India does not see itself as in competition with any country in this regard,” said President Pranab Mukherjee who is on a maiden two-day state visit to Papua New Guinea (PNG), the largest island in the Pacific region.

The President was accorded a ceremonial reception which included a 21-gun salute.

All sea lanes of communications should be free of tension and rivalry, Mukherjee said in an interview to the ‘Post Courier’ newspaper here. He was replying to a question about the future of security cooperation between PNG and India against the backdrop of strong Chinese military presence in the region.

The waters and Exclusive Economic Zones (EEZs) of Pacific Island countries have seen a surge of illegal activities such as smuggling, illegal fishing, human trafficking, drug trafficking, the President said.

“We are ready to cooperate with Papua New Guinea and the Pacific Island Countries in helping them secure their EEZs and also helping in disaster warning and disaster mitigation,” he said. — PTI