<p>With tension simmering in the South China Sea again, India has expressed concerns and called for a resolution of the maritime dispute through “peaceful means” in accordance with “universally recognised principles of international law”.<br /><br /></p>.<p>As China’s maritime disputes with Vietnam and Philippines reached a flashpoint again over the last weekend and continued to escalate earlier this week, New Delhi on Friday said it was following recent developments in the South China Sea “with concern”.<br /><br />“We believe that maintenance of peace, stability, growth and prosperity in the region is of vital interest to the international community,” said Ministry of External Affairs (MEA) spokesperson Syed Akbaruddin.<br />Of late, a large number of Chinese military and civilian ships moved into the disputed water near Paracel Islands to support Beijing’s move to place a massive oil rig in an area, which Hanoi claims as a part of Exclusive Economic Zone. Vietnam has been complaining that ships of Coast Guard were being repeatedly rammed by Chinese vessels around Paracel Islands and some of its officials got injured. <br />Philippines, too, on Wednesday caught a Chinese fishing vessel carrying large numbers of endangered sea turtles near the disputed Spratly Islands in the South China Sea. <br /><br />“We would like to see resolution of the issue through peaceful means in accordance with universally recognised principles of international law,” the MEA spokesperson said. “We also maintain that freedom of navigation in the South China Sea should not be impeded and call for cooperation in ensuring security of sea-lanes and strengthening of maritime security,” said Akbaruddin. </p>
<p>With tension simmering in the South China Sea again, India has expressed concerns and called for a resolution of the maritime dispute through “peaceful means” in accordance with “universally recognised principles of international law”.<br /><br /></p>.<p>As China’s maritime disputes with Vietnam and Philippines reached a flashpoint again over the last weekend and continued to escalate earlier this week, New Delhi on Friday said it was following recent developments in the South China Sea “with concern”.<br /><br />“We believe that maintenance of peace, stability, growth and prosperity in the region is of vital interest to the international community,” said Ministry of External Affairs (MEA) spokesperson Syed Akbaruddin.<br />Of late, a large number of Chinese military and civilian ships moved into the disputed water near Paracel Islands to support Beijing’s move to place a massive oil rig in an area, which Hanoi claims as a part of Exclusive Economic Zone. Vietnam has been complaining that ships of Coast Guard were being repeatedly rammed by Chinese vessels around Paracel Islands and some of its officials got injured. <br />Philippines, too, on Wednesday caught a Chinese fishing vessel carrying large numbers of endangered sea turtles near the disputed Spratly Islands in the South China Sea. <br /><br />“We would like to see resolution of the issue through peaceful means in accordance with universally recognised principles of international law,” the MEA spokesperson said. “We also maintain that freedom of navigation in the South China Sea should not be impeded and call for cooperation in ensuring security of sea-lanes and strengthening of maritime security,” said Akbaruddin. </p>
