GOVERNMENT OF INDIA

MINISTRY OF EXTERNAL AFFAIRS

LOK SABHA

UNSTARRED QUESTION NO.4454

TO BE ANSWERED ON 14.12.2016

SOUTH CHINA SEA

Will the Minister of EXTERNAL AFFAIRS be pleased to state:

(a) whether Japan has requested India to adopt a concrete policy regarding efforts of China to occupy South China Sea;

(b) if so, the details in this regard; and

(c) the counter efforts made by India in this regard?

ANSWER

THE MINISTER OF STATE IN THE MINISTRY OF EXTERNAL AFFAIRS

[GEN. (DR) V. K. SINGH (RETD)]

(a) to (c) India and Japan share Special Strategic and Global Partnership, which was established during the visit of Prime Minster to Japan in August-September, 2014. Under the framework of this Partnership, the two sides have established diverse mechanisms at various levels to exchange views on issues of mutual interest including on the issue of maritime safety and security. Both India and Japan have shared opinion that maintenance of freedom of navigation and over-fight and unimpeded lawful commerce, based on the principles of international law, as reflected notably in United Nations Convention on the Law of the Sea (UNCLOS), is in their common interest. As the State parties to the UNCLOS, both sides have expressed the view that utmost respect should be shown to the UNCLOS, which establishes the international legal order of the seas and ocean. Based on this principled position, both countries are working, individually, bilaterally and multilaterally, to emphasize the importance of resolving maritime disputes in South China Sea through peaceful means in accordance with universally recognized principles of international laws including the UNCLOS.