Chinese state media on Tuesday asked India to refrain from discussing the South China Sea issue during the upcoming of China's foreign minister Wang Yi to New Delhi.

The state-run Global Times newspaper, in a strongly worded editorial, warned that India should avoid "unnecessary entanglement" in the South China Sea dispute during Wang' visit. The Chinese foreign minister is slated to visit New Delhi on August 13. During his visit, Wang will meet his Indian counterpart Sushma Swaraj to discuss the upcoming G-20 summit that would be held in China.

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The nationalist tabloid further said that India's focus on the South China Sea dispute might the affect bilateral relations between two countries.

"It is puzzling that India is focusing on the South China Sea issue at this moment, a move that might risk unnecessary side effects to Sino-Indian ties," Global Times said. "India may want to avoid unnecessary entanglement with China over the South China Sea debate during Wang's visit if the country wishes to create a good atmosphere for economic cooperation, which would include reducing tariffs on made-in-India products exported to China amid the ongoing free trade talk known as the Regional Comprehensive Economic Partnership."

The Hague-based Permanent Court of Arbitration, in its verdict on July 12, rejected China's claims over the disputed South China Sea saying that the country has no legal authority to claim the contested territory. Beijing, which has claimed almost all of the contested region, strongly opposed the verdict. China maintains that it has "indisputable sovereignty" over the contested waters. 

TagsIndia, china, South China Sea, Wang Yi, Sushma Swaraj