South China Sea: At ARF, India Backs International Arbitration, Freedom of Navigation

Aug 13, 2014 | The Diplomat
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As The Diplomat reported earlier on Monday, this year’s ASEAN Regional Forum (ARF) was one of the more productive multilateral meetings in the Asia-Pacific region in recent memory. Although no progress was made towards resolving the South China Sea disputes that have become the region’s main flashpoint, diplomats interacted cordially at the ministerial-level meeting, which included the ASEAN states, the United States, China, Japan, South Korea, and India (among others). For India, this year’s ASEAN Regional Forum represented an important opportunity to assert its interests in the Southeast Asian region. The Indian delegation, led by External Affairs Minister Sushma Swaraj, affirmed its commitment to the peaceful resolution of disputes and the freedom of navigation in the region.