South China Sea dispute: Countries express concerns over China's land reclamation

NEW DELHI: Tensions came to the fore at the ongoing East Asia and Asean Foreign Ministers Meeting in Malaysia, with countries including USA, India, Japan and Australia expressing deep concern over China’s territorial claim and creation of artificial islands in the South China Sea (SCS) region.

This happened even as China asserted that it has halted its reclamation project in the region. The harshest criticism came from the US Secretary of State John Kerry, who on Thursday accused China of restricting navigation and overflights in the SCS region, assurances from his Chinese counterpart Wang Yi notwithstanding. Freedom of navigation and overflight are among the essential pillars of international maritime law, Kerry said.

India’s minister of state for external affairs, VK Singh, who attended both the summits, said, “We share the concerns expressed by our ASEAN colleagues about the evolving situation in the South China Sea. Freedom of navigation in international waters including in the South China Sea, the right of passage and overflight, unimpeded commerce and access to resources in accordance with the principles of international law, including the 1982 UN Convention on the Law of the Sea, are issues of concern to us all.”

The minister said India hopes that all parties to the disputes in the SCS region will abide by the 2002 Declaration on the Conduct of Parties in the South China Sea and work together to ensure peaceful resolution of disputes. “We remain supportive of efforts for the early conclusion of a Code of Conduct on the South China Sea, by a process of consensus,” said Singh.

Land reclamation works in the South China Sea have “increased tensions” in the region, Southeast Asian foreign ministers also said on Thursday