India, Australia Calls For Effective 'Code Of Conduct' In South China Sea
NDTV
Tensions in the South China Sea area have continued to rise in the context of China's naval expansion and the establishment of military outposts on illegally built artificial islands.
Prime Minister Narendra Modi and his Australian counterpart Scott Morrison called for an effective "Code of Conduct" in the South China Sea, which is fully consistent with international law.
"Leaders underlined the importance of being able to exercise rights and freedoms in all seas and oceans of the Indo-Pacific region, consistent with international law, particularly the UN Convention on the Law of the Sea (UNCLOS), including freedom of navigation and overflight," the Ministry of External Affairs (MEA) said in a joint statement.
Both the leaders emphasised that resolution of disputes should be carried out through peaceful means in accordance with international law without threat or use of force or any attempt to unilaterally change status quo and that countries should exercise self-restraint in the conduct of activities that could complicate or escalate disputes affecting peace and stability, added the statement.
The leaders reiterated the importance of adherence to international law, particularly as reflected in the UN Convention on the Law of the Sea (UNCLOS), to meet challenges to the maritime rules-based order, including in the South China Sea, the MEA statement read.
