August 31, 2012
Indian Minister of State for External Affairs E. Ahamed underscores the importance of Arunachal Pradesh, an area in the South China Sea at the center of a territorial dispute. Beijing, among other countries, has laid claim to it.
August 31, 2012
Indian Minister of State for External Affairs E. Ahamed underscores the importance of Arunachal Pradesh, an area in the South China Sea at the center of a territorial dispute. Beijing, among other countries, has laid claim to it.
Who owns the South China Sea? Clearly of all the nations in the region …
Ahead of Chinese Defense Minister Liang Guanglie's visit, New Delhi reiterated Thursday that Arunachal Pradesh is an integral part of India and backed freedom of navigation in the South China Sea, a territory claimed by Beijing and other countries.
China disputes the international boundary in the eastern sector and claims approximately 90,000 sq km of Indian territory in Arunachal Pradesh. China illegally refers to this region as 'Southern Tibet', Minister of State for External Affairs E. Ahamed told parliament.
He was responding to a question by Rajya Sabha BJP MP Ravi Shankar Prasad as to whether China considered Arunachal Pradesh the southern part of Tibet.
"The fact that Arunachal Pradesh is an integral and inalienable part of India has been clearly conveyed to the Chinese side," Ahamed said.
The Chinese defense minister will be in India this week. Issues such as the Sino-Indian border, confidence building between the armed forces and maritime cooperation will be discussed.
In a separate question, Ahamed emphasized that India was not a party to the dispute over sovereignty in the South China Sea.
"Sovereignty over areas of South China Sea is disputed between many countries in the region. India is not party to the dispute," Ahmed said in a written reply.
"The government has said it supports freedom of navigation, right of passage and access to resources in accordance with accepted principles of international law and these should be respected by all," he said.
He added that India wants the sovereignty issues resolved in accordance with international laws and practices.
Courtesy: Daily News
