New Delhi, May 10: India Thursday expressed concern over territorial stand-off between China and the Philippines in the South China Sea and asked both countries to exercise restraint and resolve the issue diplomatically as per international law.
"We have been following with concern recent developments involving China and the Philippines in the South China Sea. Maintenance of peace and security in the region is of vital interest to the international community. India urges both countries to exercise restraint and resolve the issue diplomatically according to principles of international law," Syed Akbaruddin, official spokesperson in the Ministry of External Affairs said.
The face-off between two countries started on April 8 when Philippine naval ship spotted eight Chinese fishing vessels at the Shoal.
A number of Chinese and Philippine fishery and coastguard ships remain stationed at the shoal, with both sides refusing to withdraw.
Both sides accuse each other of intruding into territorial waters.
The Philippines insist its claim to the Shoal is backed by international law, as the area is well within its 200-nautical-mile exclusive economic zone. Taiwan, Brunei, Vietnam and Malaysia also claim parts of the sea.
But China claims almost the entire region, which is believed to contain large oil and natural gas deposits.
In past China raised objections to Indian exploration projects in Vietnamese oil blocks in South China Sea. India always upheld that its projects were commercial in nature and the territorial disputes should be resolved as per the international laws.
India has finally decided to withdraw its exploration projects in Vietnamese oil blocks claiming that that block 128 had low prospects of producing hydrocarbons; Vietnam doubted if this was due to pressure from China. Three years ago ONGC Videsh Limited (OVL) returned block 127, adjacent to 128, to Vietnam with the same claim of low hydrocarbons production potential.
Vietnamese diplomats expressed disappointment taking into account that Hanoi always stood up to Beijing whenever it objected to the contract given to India for oil exploration in the Phu Khanh Basin.
Both sides accuse each other of intruding into territorial waters.
The Philippines insist its claim to the Shoal is backed by international law, as the area is well within its 200-nautical-mile exclusive economic zone. Taiwan, Brunei, Vietnam and Malaysia also claim parts of the sea.
But China claims almost the entire region, which is believed to contain large oil and natural gas deposits.
In past China raised objections to Indian exploration projects in Vietnamese oil blocks in South China Sea. India always upheld that its projects were commercial in nature and the territorial disputes should be resolved as per the international laws.
India has finally decided to withdraw its exploration projects in Vietnamese oil blocks claiming that that block 128 had low prospects of producing hydrocarbons; Vietnam doubted if this was due to pressure from China. Three years ago ONGC Videsh Limited (OVL) returned block 127, adjacent to 128, to Vietnam with the same claim of low hydrocarbons production potential.
Vietnamese diplomats expressed disappointment taking into account that Hanoi always stood up to Beijing whenever it objected to the contract given to India for oil exploration in the Phu Khanh Basin.
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