5th India-Philippines Joint Commission on Bilateral Cooperation (JCBC)
India and the Philippines have organized the 5th meeting of the Joint Commission on Bilateral Cooperation (JCBC). During this, both the countries decided to expand their defense partnership.
The defense sector has become a major pillar of the India-Philippines partnership because of China’s claims on the South China Sea region.
India has appealed to all stakeholders to abide by the 2016 award by the Permanent Court of Arbitration on the South China Sea (SCS). Also, called for respecting the United Nations Convention on the Law of the Sea (UNCLOS).
The ruling contradicts China’s extensive claims over the waters of the South China Sea. China has a dispute with South-East Asian countries regarding this area.
South China Sea Dispute:
- China claims 90% of the South China Sea. Its claim is based on the U-shaped nine-dash line.
- Territorial Disputes: Brunei, Malaysia, Philippines, Taiwan and Vietnam oppose China’s claim on the South China Sea.
India’s interests in the South China Sea:
- Commercial interests in the area
- Freedom of navigation and
- Rule-based system.
UNCLOS was adopted in 1982 and came into force in 1994. It sets a broad framework of law and order on the oceans and seas of the world. It also makes rules governing all kinds of uses of the oceans and their resources.
Source – The Hindu
