Posted by Rafael Antonio Cabrero/India on May 12, 1997 at 12:42:58:
In Reply to: response to Chinese aggression posted by Reginald Beltran/Philippines on May 05, 1997 at 14:51:07:
India empathizes with the concerns my right honorable colleague from the Phillipines has regarding the situation in the Spratly Islands. My government feels that the recent incursion of China into the area of the Spratlys claimed by the Philippine government will exacerbate the tensions and will not help reach a peaceful solution to this conflict.
Nevertheless, India must take exeption to the remarks made by the right honorable colleague from the Philippines questioning China's membership as a Permanent Member of the Security Council and thretening armed retaliation. Though my government understands the rage the recent incursion of Chinese ships must have caused in government circles in Manila, this is not the time to add more fuel to the fire. India urges all parties to this dispute to back down from their unproductive and confrontational debate and take on a more conciliatory tone. India once again reminds my right honorable colleagues that through the South China Sea go some of the most important shipping lanes in the world and that a war in this region will have grave economic consequences that might affects other noncombattants.