Topic: Territorial Dispute in the South China Sea
Country: India
Delegate Name: Joseph Allen
School: Roeper School
Topic page: background guide and all position papers All India position papers GLIMUN 2015 committees
Greeting fellow delegates. It is of my utmost pleasure to share the following sessions together. The Republic of India delights in the opportunity to continue to strive towards solving the global problems that plague us to this day. In such an interconnected and diverse world, it is imperative that as delegates we can come together and put aside petty differences so that just and prudent change can be equally felt by every individual of this world. Echoing the essence of the foundation of the United Nations, India proudly stands by the notion that violence should never be used to solve an issue. Today we meet with the goal of developing protocols that will help mitigate the escalating tension in the South China Sea.
When first considering solutions to issues as significant as the territorial disputes in the South China Sea, it is important to consider the ever-endearing words of one of the greatest leaders of our nation, Mahatma Gandhi: “The difference between what we do and what we are capable of doing would suffice to solve most of the world's problems.” It is in such a sense that the Republic of India urges all factions involved in the dispute to be open in their considering of potential solutions to the conflict. It was under the aforementioned guiding principle, that the Republic of India peacefully solved its border dispute with Bangladesh using The United Nations Convention on the Law of the Sea in the summer of 2014. Despite an unfavorable ruling for our own nation, India has remained true to the litigation and conclusions established in the UNCLOS’ decision. Furthermore, The Republic of India looks to the United States and Vietnam in further regards to the issue. Whoever the rightful owner of the areas of the South China Sea may be, India has already signed declarations with the US and Vietnam stating that we support “freedom of navigation in international waters, including the South China Sea, the right of passage and over flight, unimpeded commerce and access to resources in accordance with principles of international law, including the 1982 UN Convention on the Law of the Sea.”
Repeating the continued success of our own nation’s use of international arbitration, India urges the nations involved in the dispute to seek out the guidance of the international community. The current methods that are used by the UNCLOS are clearly sufficient in solving a wide variety of disputes. Yet the problem remains of getting nations to begin arbitration via the policies of the UNCLOS. Thus, India would be in favor of a proposal that primarily uses the programs already established in the international community, but also includes a clause or clauses that place greater pressure on nations whom refuse to join the convention and a proposal that also includes incentives for joining the UNCLOS. Furthermore, the Republic of India would also look favorably upon a proposal that implements repercussions for not joining the UNCLOS to further increase the appeal of seeking international settlement.
