India Calls on China to Allow Free Navigation Through South China Sea

On Tuesday, India's Foreign Minister expressed concern over China's increasing dominance in the South China Sea. The Chinese regime has been in conflict with its southwest neighbors over resource rights in its southern waters. China claims almost all of the South China Sea and last month granted its southern Hainan Province the right to police its waters. India's Foreign Minister says this new mandate goes against international law. [Salman Khurshid, India's Foreign Minister]: "There should be compliance and respect for the law of sea and freedom of navigation in high seas is something that we must all adhere to. But the sovereignty issues can be settled between China and the countries that they have a concern about, whether it is done bilaterally or multilaterally." He says the Chinese regime's ideas of sovereignty and its means to protect it are not always in line with other countries'. But he says, [Salman Khurshid, India's Foreign Minister]: "I do not think that this is something that will reach levels of hostility or conflict." On Thursday (December 20), India will hold a summit with the Association of Southeast Asian Nations, or ASEAN, to discuss this very issue. The meeting is expected to produce a consensus view on navigation freedom in the South China Sea, and also India's cooperation with ASEAN countries. While India has expressed an interest in increasing trade with China, it also says it will protect its economic interests. Earlier this month India's Navy Chief said it would deploy forces if its oil operations in the South China Sea were threatened. For more news and videos visit ☛ http://ntd.tv Follow us on Twitter ☛   / ntdtelevision   Add us on Facebook ☛ http://on.fb.me/s5KV2C