Rajnath calls for stronger UN maritime convention
In remarks seen as an oblique reference to countering Chinese hegemony in South China Sea, Defence Minister Rajnath Singh on Wednesday called for strengthening the United Nations Convention on the Law of the Sea (UNCLOS), asserting that the existing legal framework governing international waters could be further reinforced.
Speaking at the inauguration of the multi-nation maritime exercise ‘Milan’, Singh said the robust legal architecture provided by UNCLOS to address issues relating to international waters could be strengthened to meet emerging challenges.
He noted that UNCLOS offers a comprehensive and time-tested mechanism for dispute resolution and peaceful co-existence. He said that a stronger global maritime framework would facilitate information sharing, safeguard sea lines of communication and curb criminal activities, including terrorism on the high seas, while upholding the protection of national maritime boundaries.
The reference to UNCLOS assumes significance in the context of disputes in the South China Sea. Beijing had rejected a 2016 international tribunal ruling that invalidated its expansive “nine-dash line” claim over large parts of the contested waters. The issue continues to generate friction with neighbouring countries. China is currently engaged in negotiations over a code of conduct in the South China Sea with the Philippines, Vietnam, Brunei, Malaysia and Taiwan.
“India aspires to establish an equitable maritime order based on international rules and freedom of navigation,” the minister said.
