India committed to respecting rights of all nations as laid in UNCLOS: Defence Minister
The Hindu
Nation determined to protect its legitimate maritime rights and interests: Rajnath
India is committed to respecting the rights of all nations as laid down in the UN Convention on the Law of Seas (UNCLOS), Defence Minister Rajnath Singh said on Wednesday, while reiterating that India is fully determined to protect its legitimate maritime rights and interests.
“We are fully determined to protect the legitimate rights and interests of our country in relation to our territorial waters and Exclusive Economic Zone, while supporting the maintenance of rule-based maritime systems, as mandated under UNCLOS, 1982,” Mr. Singh said while addressing the Indo-Pacific Regional Dialogue being jointly organised by the Navy and National maritime Foundation.
Stating that while competition over resources had intensified, Mr. Singh said the rise of serious threats such as terrorism, piracy, drug trafficking and climate change had thrown new challenges for the Indo-Pacific region. “The nature of these challenges in the region has considerable trans-national implications, which require a cooperative response. There is, therefore, a need to find convergence of interests and commonality of purpose on maritime issues,” he stated.