TIL Desk/National/Bengaluru/ In a reference to to the prevailing tension in the South China Sea because of China’s expansionist strategy, he said that the negative impact of conflicting claims in some maritime areas highlighted the need to ensure peace in the IOR region.
However, the Defence Minister didn’t name China while referring to the current situation in the South China Sea during his address at the Indian Ocean Region Defence Ministers’ Conclave here.
A total of 27 out of the 28 Indian Ocean countries participated in the conclave and shared their views on enhancing regional cooperation.
Rajnath Singh underlined that the Indian Ocean is a shared asset and a lifeline to international trade and transport due to its control of major sea-lanes carrying half of the world’s container ships, one-third of the world’s bulk cargo traffic and two-thirds of the world’s oil shipments.
