Stressing on enhancing maritime security, Prime Minister Narendra Modi on Monday called for peaceful settlement of disputes as per international law and for jointly combating maritime threats posed by non-state actors as he chaired a high-level UN Security Council open debate.

Addressing the debate on "Enhancing Maritime Security - A Case for International Cooperation" via video conferencing, Modi put forward five principles for inclusive maritime security strategy and mentioned India’s vision ‘SAGAR'' for sustainable use of the oceans.

He also emphasised that the oceans are the world's common heritage and sea routes are the lifeline of international trade.

Underlining that the countries'' shared maritime heritage is facing many challenges, the Prime Minister said, "We should remove barriers for legitimate maritime trade. Global prosperity depends on the active flow of maritime trade. Any hindrance in maritime trade can threaten the global economy."

The second principle, he said, was that the settlement of maritime disputes should be peaceful and based on international law.

"This is very important for mutual trust and confidence. This is the only way we can ensure global peace and stability," he asserted.

Modi said it was with this understanding and maturity that India resolved its maritime boundary issues with its neighbour Bangladesh.

He said the third key principle was that the global community should jointly fight maritime threats posed by natural disasters and non-state actors, and added that India has taken several steps to enhance regional cooperation in this regard.

Preserving the maritime environment and maritime resources, and encouraging responsible maritime connectivity were the fourth and fifth principles enunciated by the prime minister.

Modi is the first Indian Prime Minister to preside over a UN Security Council Open Debate, according to the Prime Minister's Office.

The meeting was being attended by several heads of state and government of member states of the United Nations Security Council (UNSC), and high-level briefers from the UN system and key regional organisations.

The open debate was focused on ways to effectively counter maritime crime and insecurity, and strengthen coordination in the maritime domain.

The UN Security Council has discussed and passed resolutions on different aspects of maritime security and maritime crime in the past.

However, this is the first time that maritime security was discussed holistically as an exclusive agenda item in such a high-level open debate.&nbsp;

Stressing on enhancing maritime security, Prime Minister Narendra Modi on Monday called for peaceful settlement of disputes as per international law and for jointly combating maritime threats posed by non-state actors as he chaired a high-level UN Security Council open debate.

Stressing on enhancing maritime security, Prime Minister Narendra Modi on Monday called for peaceful settlement of disputes as per international law and for jointly combating maritime threats posed by non-state actors as he chaired a high-level UN Security Council open debate. Addressing the debate on "Enhancing Maritime Security - A Case for International Cooperation" via video conferencing, Modi put forward five principles for inclusive maritime security strategy and mentioned India’s vision ‘SAGAR'' for sustainable use of the oceans. He also emphasised that the oceans are the world's common heritage and sea routes are the lifeline of international trade. Underlining that the countries'' shared maritime heritage is facing many challenges, the Prime Minister said, "We should remove barriers for legitimate maritime trade. Global prosperity depends on the active flow of maritime trade. Any hindrance in maritime trade can threaten the global economy." The second principle, he said, was that the settlement of maritime disputes should be peaceful and based on international law. "This is very important for mutual trust and confidence. This is the only way we can ensure global peace and stability," he asserted. Modi said it was with this understanding and maturity that India resolved its maritime boundary issues with its neighbour Bangladesh. He said the third key principle was that the global community should jointly fight maritime threats posed by natural disasters and non-state actors, and added that India has taken several steps to enhance regional cooperation in this regard. Preserving the maritime environment and maritime resources, and encouraging responsible maritime connectivity were the fourth and fifth principles enunciated by the prime minister. Modi is the first Indian Prime Minister to preside over a UN Security Council Open Debate, according to the Prime Minister's Office. The meeting was being attended by several heads of state and government of member states of the United Nations Security Council (UNSC), and high-level briefers from the UN system and key regional organisations. The open debate was focused on ways to effectively counter maritime crime and insecurity, and strengthen coordination in the maritime domain. The UN Security Council has discussed and passed resolutions on different aspects of maritime security and maritime crime in the past. However, this is the first time that maritime security was discussed holistically as an exclusive agenda item in such a high-level open debate.

PM Modi chairs UNSC debate; calls for cooperation to combat maritime threats posed by non-state actors

China and Russia will hold joint naval exercises in the South China Sea in September, Beijing&#39;s defence ministry said today, after an international tribunal invalidated the Asian giant`s extensive claims in the area. 
 
The drills will be carried out in the &quot;relevant sea and air of the South China Sea&quot;, defence ministry spokesman Yang Yujun told reporters at a monthly briefing. 
 
With international diplomatic tensions mounting and Washington regularly sending warships into the strategically vital area to assert the right to freedom of navigation, the move could see vessels from several of the world&#39;s most powerful militaries in the same region at the same time. 
 
The drills aim to &quot;consolidate and develop&quot; China and Russia&#39;s comprehensive strategic partnership, and &quot;enhance the capabilities of the two navies to jointly deal with maritime security threats&quot; Yang said. 
 
The announcement comes after a tribunal at the Permanent Court of Arbitration in The Hague ruled that there was &quot;no legal basis&quot; to Beijing`s claims in the South China Sea, embodied in a &quot;nine-dash line&quot; dating from Chinese maps of the 1940s and extending almost to the coasts of other countries, which have competing claims. 
 
China has built a series of artificial islands on rocks and reefs in the area hosting facilities capable of supporting military operations, widely seen as an attempt to bolster its control of the waters. 
 
The tribunal ruling in a case brought by the Philippine infuriated Beijing, which rejected it as &quot;waste paper&quot; and reiterated its right to declare an Air Defence Identification Zone controlling flights over the area.&nbsp; 
 
 
&#39;September&#39;s exercise does not target any party&#39; 
 
China and Russia have close military and diplomatic ties, often in opposition to the West, particularly the United States, and their leaders Xi Jinping and Vladimir Putin enjoy a tight relationship. 
 
The two sides hold joint drills regularly &quot;on land and sea&quot;, Yang said, which &quot;contribute to peace and stability.&quot;&nbsp; 
 
September&#39;s exercise was &quot;routine&quot; and &quot;does not target any third party&quot;, he added. 
 
Last August, the two powers who were allies then rivals during the Soviet era carried out military exercises in the waters and airspace of the Peter the Great Gulf, south of the Russian Pacific city of Vladivostok, involving 22 vessels, up to 20 aircraft and more than 500 marines. 
 
In May last year, they conducted their first joint naval exercises in European waters in the Black Sea and Mediterranean, China`s farthest-ever drills from its home waters. 
 
Xi and Putin meet frequently and their countries, both permanent members of the United Nations Security Council, often take similar stances there on divisive issues such as the conflict in Syria. 
 
Pentagon&#39;s &#39;freedom of navigation&#39; 
 
In response to Beijing&#39;s increased activity in the South China Sea, the US began a series of &quot;freedom of navigation&quot; operations in the area, sailing naval vessels within 12 nautical miles, the normal territorial limit around natural land of reefs in the region. 
 
The missions were widely seen as an attempt to push back against China&#39;s increasing assertiveness, although the Pentagon said they were also a warning to Vietnam, Taiwan and the Philippines. 
 
On Monday, US National Security Adviser Susan Rice told Chinese officials in Beijing that the US intended to continue its patrols in the region, while the vice chairman of China`s Central Military Commission, Fan Changlong, warned that ties between the two powers could easily fray.&nbsp; 
 
&quot;We should be honest with ourselves that deep down in this relationship we&#39;re still faced with obstacles and challenges,&quot; Fan said, adding that military ties had been &quot;impacted by some complicated and some sensitive factors&quot;.&nbsp; 
 
Rice noted that &quot;risks of unintended consequences&quot; of the two countries` forces operating in ever-closer proximity had been reduced thanks to better communication and other confidence-building measures. 
 
(AFP)

The move could see vessels from several of the world's most powerful militaries in the same region at the same time

China and Russia will hold joint naval exercises in the South China Sea in September, Beijing's defence ministry said today, after an international tribunal invalidated the Asian giant`s extensive claims in the area. The drills will be carried out in the "relevant sea and air of the South China Sea", defence ministry spokesman Yang Yujun told reporters at a monthly briefing. With international diplomatic tensions mounting and Washington regularly sending warships into the strategically vital area to assert the right to freedom of navigation, the move could see vessels from several of the world's most powerful militaries in the same region at the same time. The drills aim to "consolidate and develop" China and Russia's comprehensive strategic partnership, and "enhance the capabilities of the two navies to jointly deal with maritime security threats" Yang said. The announcement comes after a tribunal at the Permanent Court of Arbitration in The Hague ruled that there was "no legal basis" to Beijing`s claims in the South China Sea, embodied in a "nine-dash line" dating from Chinese maps of the 1940s and extending almost to the coasts of other countries, which have competing claims. China has built a series of artificial islands on rocks and reefs in the area hosting facilities capable of supporting military operations, widely seen as an attempt to bolster its control of the waters. The tribunal ruling in a case brought by the Philippine infuriated Beijing, which rejected it as "waste paper" and reiterated its right to declare an Air Defence Identification Zone controlling flights over the area. 'September's exercise does not target any party' China and Russia have close military and diplomatic ties, often in opposition to the West, particularly the United States, and their leaders Xi Jinping and Vladimir Putin enjoy a tight relationship. The two sides hold joint drills regularly "on land and sea", Yang said, which "contribute to peace and stability." September's exercise was "routine" and "does not target any third party", he added. Last August, the two powers who were allies then rivals during the Soviet era carried out military exercises in the waters and airspace of the Peter the Great Gulf, south of the Russian Pacific city of Vladivostok, involving 22 vessels, up to 20 aircraft and more than 500 marines. In May last year, they conducted their first joint naval exercises in European waters in the Black Sea and Mediterranean, China`s farthest-ever drills from its home waters. Xi and Putin meet frequently and their countries, both permanent members of the United Nations Security Council, often take similar stances there on divisive issues such as the conflict in Syria. Pentagon's 'freedom of navigation' In response to Beijing's increased activity in the South China Sea, the US began a series of "freedom of navigation" operations in the area, sailing naval vessels within 12 nautical miles, the normal territorial limit around natural land of reefs in the region. The missions were widely seen as an attempt to push back against China's increasing assertiveness, although the Pentagon said they were also a warning to Vietnam, Taiwan and the Philippines. On Monday, US National Security Adviser Susan Rice told Chinese officials in Beijing that the US intended to continue its patrols in the region, while the vice chairman of China`s Central Military Commission, Fan Changlong, warned that ties between the two powers could easily fray. "We should be honest with ourselves that deep down in this relationship we're still faced with obstacles and challenges," Fan said, adding that military ties had been "impacted by some complicated and some sensitive factors". Rice noted that "risks of unintended consequences" of the two countries` forces operating in ever-closer proximity had been reduced thanks to better communication and other confidence-building measures. (AFP)

China, Russia to hold joint exercises in South China Sea to deal with maritime threats: Beijing

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