India calls for compliance with international law in East Sea
India on August 1 affirmed its “genuine and legitimate” interests in peace and stability in the East Sea, and called on relevant parties to abide by international law.
Spokesperson of the External Affairs Ministry Raveesh Kumar (Photo: AP)
New Delhi (VNA) – India on August 1 affirmed its “genuine andlegitimate” interests in peace and stability in the East Sea, and called on relevantparties to abide by international law.
Responding to queries on reports that Chinese ships areinterrupting oil exploration activities of India’s Oil and Natural GasCorporation Limited (ONGC) in the waters, spokesperson of the External AffairsMinistry Raveesh Kumar said at the weekly press conference: “We have genuineand legitimate interests in the peace, stability and predictability of accessto the major waterways in the region”.
The East Sea is important as 55 percent of India’s trade passes through it, headded.
Earlier, Indian press reported that Vietnam has apprisedIndia of tensions arising from China’s deployment of survey vessel HaiyangDizhi 8 escorted by coast guard ships in the East Sea, close to waters wherethe state-owned ONGC is engaged in oil and gas exploration. –VNA
The Tu Chinh reef (internationally known as Vanguard Bank) is located in Vietnam’s 200-nautical-mile exclusive economic zone and completely belongs to the country, defined in line with the 1982 United Nations Convention on the Law of the Sea (1982 UNCLOS).
Vietnam actively participated in the negotiation process and building of the 1982 United Nations Convention on the Law of the Sea (UNCLOS) and has made significant efforts in enforcing the pact.
Defence Secretary of the Philippines Delfin Lorenzana on July 30 criticized China for what he called "bullying" actions in the East Sea and said Beijing's peaceful assurances contrast with its behaviour in the contested waters.
Deputy Prime Minister and Minister of Foreign Affairs Pham Binh Minh on July 31 expressed his grave concern over the recent developments in the East Sea, with Chinese geological survey vessel group Haiyang Dizhi 8’s activities violating Vietnam’s exclusive economic zone and continental shelf in the waters.
Deputy Prime Minister and Foreign Minister Pham Binh Minh shared ASEAN member states’ stance on the significance of the ASEAN – US strategic partnership at the ASEAN – US Foreign Ministers’ Meeting held in Bangkok, Thailand on August 1.
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Spokesperson of the External Affairs Ministry Raveesh Kumar (Photo: AP) 
