Article Posted on : - Nov 18, 2011

An unrelated photo.

NEW DELHI (PTI): The Indian Navy said the South China sea is an area of "significant concern" and developments there will have global implications.

"We are seeing edginess in relations between countries of this region. The potential for conflict in South China Sea and instability in Korean Peninsula have heightened awareness of analysts to region's shortcomings in terms on institutional arrangements to resolve potential crises. The South China Sea is an area of significant concern," Indian Navy chief Admiral Nirmal Verma said Thursday at a seminar on national security.

The Navy Chief's statement comes in the backdrop of an incident where Beijing had objected over oil exploration in two Vietnamese blocks in the South China Sea by India's ONGC Videsh Ltd (OVL).

In another incident, an Indian Navy warship was also warned by an unknown source over radio transmission set to move out of the South China sea.

Addressing the gathering, Verma said leaders of Chinese and Vietnamese communist parties met last month on the issue and have resolved to work together to solve their territorial disputes in South China sea.

"Developments in the South China Sea and the outcomes will have major implications not only for countries in the region but for the world at large, as many nations have considerable economic interests in the region," he said.

Verma said that the countries in the region should brainstorm on structure and content of security architecture that would offer a 'best fit' to promote peace and stability.

"Ready-made solutions do not exist and that it may not also be feasible to borrow an existing arrangement functioning in another region to be applied in the Asia-Pacific," he said.