India Asks China To Accept Arbitral Tribunal’s Verdict On South China Sea

Deputy head of the State Council Information Office Guo Weimin (L) speaks at a press conference on the white paper titled "China Adheres to the Position of Settling Through Negotiation the Relevant Disputes Between China and the Philippines in the South China Sea" in Beijing, capital of China, July 13, 2016. The Chinese government on Wednesday issued the white paper. (Xinhua/Chen Yehua)

Shailesh Kumar, 

New Delhi, 12 July 2016

In a late evening statement issued by the Ministry of External Affairs, India has asked its neighbor China to accept the South China Sea verdict pronounced by the Permanent Court of Arbitration. However, China has declared the tribunal award as illegal, null and void.

The MEA press note stated, “India has noted the Award of the Arbitral Tribunal constituted under Annex VII of the 1982 United Nations Convention on the Law of Sea (UNCLOS) in the matter concerning the Republic of the Philippines and the People’s Republic of China”.

“India supports freedom of navigation and over flight, and unimpeded commerce, based on the principles of international law, as reflected notably in the UNCLOS. India believes that States should resolve disputes through peaceful means without threat or use of force and exercise self-restraint in the conduct of activities that could complicate or escalate disputes affecting peace and stability”.

“Sea lanes of communication passing through the South China Sea are critical for peace, stability, prosperity and development. As a State Party to the UNCLOS, India urges all parties to show utmost respect for the UNCLOS, which establishes the international legal order of the seas and oceans”.