New Delhi: China said Tuesday that “third parties have no right to interfere whatsoever” in the ongoing territorial disputes in the South China Sea after India endorsed its support to the Philippines in “upholding its sovereignty”.
During a regular press briefing, Chinese foreign ministry spokesperson Lin Jian said maritime disputes are “issues between the countries concerned”.
“We urge relevant parties to squarely face the facts and truth on the South China Sea issue, and respect China’s territorial sovereignty and maritime rights and interests and the efforts of regional countries to keep the South China Sea peaceful and stable,” added Lin.
The remarks came after India’s External Affairs Minister S. Jaishankar, during a visit to Manila, “firmly” backed the Philippines in upholding its sovereignty, amid tensions in the South China Sea, adding that the United Nations Convention on the Law of the Sea (UNCLOS 1982) was particularly important as the “constitution of the seas”.
“All parties must adhere to it in its entirety, both in letter and in spirit,” he said during a joint press conference with his Philippines counterpart Enrique Manalo Tuesday.
The statement came a week after the Chinese coast guard attacked the Philippines naval supply boat while the latter was trying to reach the Second Thomas Shoal located in the Spratly Islands. Both Beijing and Manila claim the Shoal.
The incident led to Beijing lodging a “serious representation” with the Philippines government on the “illegal resupply” to the disputed Shoal, claiming that it was an attempt to occupy the disputed territory.
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Defence and security ties figure in Jaishankar visit
Apart from meeting with the secretary of foreign affairs and calling on the Philippines President Ferdinand Marcos Jr, Jaishankar also met with Manila’s secretary of national defence Gilbert Teodoro — the country’s defence minister — and its national security advisor.
Concluded my Manila program by meeting NSA Eduardo Año and DICT Secretary Ivan John Uy.
An engaging conversation about technology advancements and contemporary challenges. pic.twitter.com/xWau3YuoH9
— Dr. S. Jaishankar (Modi Ka Parivar) (@DrSJaishankar) March 26, 2024
Jaishankar discussed a “strengthening” of the defence partnership between Manila and New Delhi during his meeting with Teodoro. In a post on the social media platform X, Jaishankar added that India and the Philippines share “many convergences” in the Indo-Pacific region.
“Discussed strengthening our defence partnership, reflecting our shared interests and many convergences in the Indo-Pacific. Look forward to enhancing capabilities, intensifying exchanges and closer contacts,” Jaishankar said in the post.
A good conversation with Defense Secretary Gilbert Teodoro of the Philippines.
Discussed strengthening our defense partnership, reflecting our shared interests and many convergences in the Indo-Pacific.
Look forward to enhancing capabilities, intensifying exchanges and closer… pic.twitter.com/cLBupyG9Bh
— Dr. S. Jaishankar (Modi Ka Parivar) (@DrSJaishankar) March 26, 2024
In 2022, India and the Philippines signed a $375 million agreement on the sale of BrahMos supersonic cruise missiles — New Delhi’s first export order of the defence system. The delivery of the BrahMos systems from India to the Philippines is expected to begin this year.
Jaishankar also discussed the contemporary challenges and advancement of technologies with the Philippine Secretary of Information and Communications Technology Ivan John Enrile Uy.
(Edited by Uttara Ramaswamy)
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