“We’ve always felt that the issues need to be resolved, disputes peacefully, and the rules-based order, and we would certainly urge parties to follow that as well as ensure that such incidents do not happen,” said ministry of external affairs spokesperson Arindam Bagchi. “We have also underlined the need for peaceful settlement of disputes,” he added.
In June this year, while reiterating the call for a free, open and inclusive Indo-Pacific, India for the first time had joined the Philippines in asking China to abide by a 2016 legally binding ruling that strongly refuted China’s expansive claims in its dispute with the southeast Asian country over South China Sea waters.
The Philippines accused Chinese Coast Guard ships last week of firing water cannons and making dangerous manoeuvres against its ships in the SouthChina Sea.
Meanwhile, a day after a Chinese warship docked at the Colombo port, India on Friday said it carefully monitors any development having a bearing on its security interests and takes all necessary measures. The Chinese PLA’s Navy warship HAI YANG 24 HAO arrived at the port of Colombo on a formal visit on Thursday morning, the Sri Lankan Navy said.
“I have seen reports of a Chinese ship there. I am not sure whether it is a warship or not. I would emphasise that the government carefully monitors any development having a bearing on the country’s security interests and takes all necessary measures to defend them,” Bagchi said.
The docking of the Chinese missile and satellite tracking ship ‘Yuan Wang’ at Hambantota port last August triggered a diplomatic row between India and Sri Lanka.