India, Thailand firm up maritime cooperation

BANGKOK: -- India’s Vice-President Hamid Ansari on Wednesday told the leadership of Thailand that India-Thailand collaboration is necessary to ensure freedom of navigation and connectivity in the Southeast Asian region.

“As maritime neighbours, we have a shared interest in the security of international sea lanes of communication and commerce. Our resolve to strengthen our bilateral engagement in the areas of security and defence will help the region as a whole and promote regional economic integration and connectivity,” Mr. Ansari said while addressing the state banquet hosted in his honour by the Thai Prime Minister Gen. Prayut Chan-o-cha.

During the ongoing tour of Southeast Asia, the Indian delegation led by Mr. Ansari has expressed Indian concerns about freedom of navigation in the region due to growing maritime disputes between China and several other regional countries over South China Sea. “Our position on resolving the South China Sea dispute is well known and we want it to be settled peacefully.

Full story: http://www.thehindu.com/news/international/india-thailand-firm-up-maritime-cooperation/article8189936.ece

-- THE HINDU 2016-02-04

Havent both been involved in maritime trading for a few thousand years. I would think this history would not require an announcement of cooperation.

The Junta's ever closer military and trade ties with China and Prayut government's repeated human rights violations in support with China's suppression of freedom of expression has other nations concerned that the Junta will back China in its claim to sovereignty of the South China Sea.

India is correct to remind Prayut of India's own interests in a sovereign-free China Sea as shared by other nations in the Asia-Pacific region. In a diplomatic sense India is sending a warning to the Junta to get on the right side.