Pavel Gudev, an international law expert from the Russian Academy of Sciences addresses the conference (Photo: VNA) Moscow (VNA) – Leading scientists and researchers specializingin Asia-Pacific region, the Association of Southeast Asian Nations (ASEAN) andinternational law, discussed the East Sea disputes in the system of moderninternational relations in Asia-Pacific region at a round-table in Moscow onMay 11.
They analysed recent developments in the East Sea and discussed theprospects of settling the issues at the event, held by the Institute of OrientalStudies of the Russian Academy of Sciences.
They affirmed that disputes in the East Sea are among the largestthreats to the global stability and security, as besides the states claimingsovereignty in the area, world powers also have interest in the sea.
They showed their concern about China’s recent militarization activitiesin the East Sea, especially Beijing’s deployment of a missile system in thedisputed area, as well as the competition of influence of the US and China inthe region.
Pavel Gudev, an international law expert from the Russian Academy of Sciences said that the rulingof the Permanent Court of Arbitration in The Hague affirmed the illegal natureof China’s claims of over 80 percent of water surface of the East Sea.Meanwhile, many meetings, forums, conferences in the world and the region suchas the G7 Summit and the ASEAN-EU Summit, also mentioned concerns about China’smoves in the region, especially Beijing’s construction of artificial islandsand militarization in the East Sea.
He highlighted that China is making full use of its political,diplomatic and economic influences to convince other countries not to supportthe court’s judgment.
The expert also stressed that China should not interfere into economicactivities of its neighbouring countries in disputed areas, especially notbothering Philippine and Vietnamese fishermen’s fishing activities in theirtraditional fishing ground.
Meanwhile, Prof. Ekaterinna Koldunov of the Russia Academy of Diplomacysaid that the most important factor to ease tension in the relations betweenChina and its neighbouring countries is the building and signing of anagreement on a Code of Conduct in the East Sea (COC).
She noted that despite difficulties facing the reaching of the COC,certain progress has seen in the process through the ASEAN-China SeniorOfficials’ Meeting in May 2017 and the ASEAN-China Foreign Ministerial Meetingin August 2017.
Participants agreed that all parties involved should deal with disputesin the East Sea through peaceful negotiation, not to threaten to use force, andact in line with international law and the UN Convention on the Law of the Sea1982. China and ASEAN should promptly negotiate and sign the legally-binding COCbased on international law, they said.
They also proposed that Russia should show more active engagement insettling disputes in the East Sea as an intermediary.-VNA
VNA
