China's Foreign Minister Wang Yi said on Friday that India is free to decide where it stands on the South China Sea dispute, Times of India reported.

"It is up to India what position it has to take," Wang said when asked whether he has come to India to seek New Delhi's support in the maritime dispute.         

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Wang, who is on a three-day tour to India, is scheduled to meet Indian Prime Minister Narendra Modi and India's Minister of External Affairs Sushma Swaraj on Saturday. Wang is expected to discuss a host of contentious issues with Indian officials including the Nuclear Supplier's Group impasse.

Sources claim that Wang would seek the commitment of Indian leaders on the South China Sea dispute ahead of the upcoming G20 summit in September in China.

Beijing fears that an international bloc led by the US may seek to embarrass China by evoking South China Sea dispute at the G20 summit. Such a move could hurt China, given that it is under pressure to accept the verdict on the South China Sea dispute delivered by the Permanent Court of Arbitration (PCA) in June.

The court dismissed China's expansive claim over the disputed maritime territory. However, the Chinese government has stated that it would not accept the verdict, regardless of international pressure.     

Recent Tension in Indo-China Relationship     

The tension between China and India has increased drastically in recent months after Beijing blocked New Delhi's bid to blacklist Masood Azhar at the United Nations. China also stopped India's attempt to become a member of the Nuclear Supplier Group (NSG).

India deployed over 100 military tanks to the Ladakh border last month, while China recently carried out a joint military exercise along with Pakistan near Kashmir.

TagsIndia, china, South China Sea, Wang Yi, China's Foreign Minister