NEWS   India’s leadership in the debate on maritime security has boosted its standing as a key player in the shared commons.

CONTEXT

• Recently the Indian Prime Minister had addressed at the UNSC High-Level Open Debate, on “Enhancing Maritime Security: A Case For International Cooperation”, convened by India.

HIGHLIGHTS FROM THE PRIME MINISTER’S ADDRESS

• He described the oceans as a common heritage for humankind and a lifeline for the future of the planet.
• He urged the global community to develop a common framework to deal with contemporary challenges, including maritime disputes and natural disasters.
•  He also outlined a far-sighted vision rooted in India’s culture, history and geography.

INDIA’S MARITIME TRADITIONS

• With a long coastline and large island chains spread-eagled across the Indian Ocean, India has a natural seaward orientation, with key sea lanes of communication coursing through its surrounding seas.
• India has ancient maritime traditions.
  • In the 15th century, Vasco de Gama was piloted to the west coast of India from Zanzibar by a Gujarati seaman.
  • Long before that, India’s ancient mariners were trading with the old world. The word navigation is derived from the Sanskrit word “navgath”.
  • Lothal was a key maritime centre of the Indus Valley civilisation.
  • India had maritime trade with Mesopotamia 4,500 years ago.
  • Kutch and Kathiawar as well as the Malabar coast enjoyed ancient links to Africa.
  • Buddhism and Hinduism spread to South-east Asia by the maritime route.
  • Even Islam took the maritime route from India to South-east Asia.

SIGNIFICANCE OF MARITIME SECURITY AND RELATED CONCERNS

• Ninety per cent of global trade is conducted on the high seas, for the simple reason that it continues to be the most cost effective mode of transport.
  • Therefore, any disruption of sea lanes of communication will have global repercussions.
  • For example- The blockage in the Suez Canal earlier this year interrupted the flow of trade worth billions of dollars.
• Freedom of navigation and unimpeded commerce are key to the spread of prosperity.
• While critical supply chains depend on the concept of mare liberum (open seas), the neo-colonial concept of mare clausum (closed seas) in the South China Sea is evil to the future of the global economy.

IDEAS THAT INDIA PITCHED FOR AS AN UNSC PRESIDENT

Relevance of SAGAR

• India reiterated the relevance of SAGAR (Security And Growth For All In The Region).
• It urged the international community to develop a cooperative and inclusive framework for maritime security, so essential for unimpeded trade and commerce.

Dispute settlement

• The Prime Minister advocated peaceful settlement of maritime disputes on the basis of international law as:
  • This idea is rooted in India’s values of peace and non-violence.
  • Today, natural disasters and maritime threats posed by non-state actors have grown exponentially. Hence it is important for the global community to rally together to deal effectively with the ravages of cyclones, tsunami and maritime pollution.

Environmental concerns

• The debate underscored the importance of preserving the maritime environment and its resources.
• The oceans remain our lifeline. Yet, they have been overwhelmed by plastic waste which chokes all forms of marine life.
  • This, in turn, poisons the entire food chain and imperils the lives of millions.

Development of connectivity and infrastructure

• Development of connectivity and infrastructure were also outlined as a major priority, since there have been heightened concerns today over China’s Belt and Road Initiative (BRI).

Primacy of UNCLOS

• As President of the UN Security Council for the month of August, India’s leadership in the debate on maritime security, has strengthened its credentials as a key stake-holder in the maritime commons.
• The Presidential Statement highlighted the commitment of the UN Security Council to international law.
• It also emphasised on the importance of the United Nations Convention on the Law of the Sea as the legal framework governing all maritime activity.

ROLE PLAYED BY INDIA

• India’s have already set an example by accepting the award by the Permanent Court of Arbitration in 2014.
  • The award in turn paved the way for India and Bangladesh to put aside their maritime dispute and forge even closer ties.
  • While China in 2016, summarily rejected the Permanent Court of Arbitration ruling in favour of the Philippines.
• India’s role as ‘first responder’ in the Indian Ocean, whether in thwarting piracy or providing relief after the Boxing Day tsunami in 2004, is well- documented.
  • The Indian Air Force airlifted 30 tonnes of relief material to Mauritius in August 2020 to contain an oil spill that threatened to engulf the island nation’s pristine coast.
• The Indian Coast Guard’s operational reach and capability has vastly improved in dealing with environmental hazards and piracy.
• The Indian Navy’s state-of-the-art Information Fusion Centre-Indian Ocean Region (IFC-IOR) based in Gurugram hosts officers from the United States, Japan, France, Australia and the United Kingdom. Also, the Indian Navy regularly offers a large number of training slots to friendly countries.
• India stands for openness and transparency in the execution of projects, based on local priorities, with in-built fiscal viability and environmental sustainability.
  • The U.S., Japan and Australia are also promoting better standards for global infrastructure through the Blue Dot Network.

CONCLUSION

• India’s natural interests stretch across both the Indian and Pacific Oceans as reflected in its inclusive Indo-Pacific vision. No doubt, India’s initiative will further the prospects for a stable and enduring maritime environment.

Reference:

https://www.thehindu.com/opinion/op-ed/an-indian-sail-to-navigate-the-maritime-environment/article35903300.ece