The territorial dispute in the West Philippine Sea is one of the regional agendas discussed by Manila and New Delhi during bilateral talks on Monday, the Department of Foreign Affairs said.
At the sidelines of a closed-door talks between DFA secretary Albert del Rosario and Indian External Affairs Minister Salman Khurshid, DFA Raul Hernandez said that the sea dispute was discussed by the two foreign chiefs.
“Usually [they talk about] regional issues, and that [WSP dispute] should be included,†Hernandez said on Monday in an ambush interview.
During the 8th East Asia Summit on the first week of October, concerned countries like the Philippines and Japan made a commitment to resolve the South China Sea issues through a consensus.
The Indian Prime Minister Manmohan Singh supported such commitment and noted that a stable maritime environment, including freedom of navigation and unimpeded commerce in the South China Sea is very important.
“A stable maritime environment is essential to realise our collective regional aspirations. We should re-affirm the principles of maritime security, including the right of passage and unimpeded commerce, in accordance with International law and peaceful settlement of maritime disputes,†the Prime minister said earlier.
China and India has also have its own dispute in the Himalayas over decades but intensified in May 2013 over troop movements in the region.
http://manilastandardtoday.com/2013/10/22/ph-india-take-up-maritime-dispute-other-issues/
