ASEAN leaders have reasserted their unwavering commitment to maintaining peace, stability, and freedom of navigation and overflight in the East Sea, amid growing concerns over rising maritime tensions in the region.
The peaceful settlement of disputes without the use or threat to use force in the East Sea emerged as a pressing concern at an international conference held in the northern province of Quang Ninh from October 23-24.
Leaders of member states of the Association of Southeast Asian Nations (ASEAN) have reaffirmed the importance of maintaining and promoting peace, security, stability, safety, and freedom of navigation in and overflight above the East Sea.
The Foreign Ministers of Australia, India and Japan and the Secretary of State of the US have committed to ensuring freedom of navigation and overflight in the South China Sea (called the East Sea in Vietnam) and the East China Sea, and deepening engagement with regional partners to protect their ability to develop offshore resources.
Australia and the US underlined the importance of countries’ ability to exercise their maritime rights and freedoms in the South China Sea (called East Sea in Vietnam), consistent with the 1982 UN Convention on the Law of the Sea (UNCLOS), including freedom of navigation and overflight and other internationally lawful uses of the sea related to these freedoms.
Foreign ministers of ASEAN countries and Japan agreed on the importance of freedom of navigation in the East Sea (internationally known as South China Sea) during their virtual meeting on August 3.
Sergey Tolstov, an expert at the Institute of World History, the National Academy of Sciences of Ukraine, has published an article highlighting the role of international law and the significance of the Permanent Court of Arbitration (PCA)’s ruling in settling disputes in the East Sea.
International scholars taking part in a July 9 webinar highlighted the significance of the 1982 United Nations Convention on the Law of the Sea (UNCLOS) and the Permanent Court of Arbitration (PCA)’s ruling in the settlement of the East Sea issue.
The 31st Meeting of the States Parties to the 1982 United Nations Convention on the Law of the Sea (UNCLOS) took place at the UN headquarters in New York from June 21 to 25.
Four ministers from Japan and the UK on February 3 voiced serious concern about the situation in the East Sea (South China Sea) and East China Sea and opposed any unilateral attempts to change the status quo, according to Reuters.
Countries participating in a plenary meeting of the UN General Assembly’s 75th session on December 8 highlighted the importance of the 1982 UN Convention on the Law of the Sea (UNCLOS) as the international legal framework regulating all activities in the seas and oceans.
The 37th ASEAN Summit is expected to take place in mid-November, and as ASEAN Chair this year, Vietnam is joining other member countries to actively prepare for this important event, according to Spokeswoman of the Foreign Ministry Le Thi Thu Hang.
Foreign ministers attending the ASEAN Regional Forum (ARF) emphasised the importance of non-militarization and self-restraint in the conduct of all activities by claimants and all other states.
Prime Minister Nguyen Xuan Phuc had a meeting in Hanoi on July 24 with Speaker of the House of Representatives of Australia Tony Smith, who said his country will keep assisting Vietnam in the latter’s development process.
Experts from the Czech Republic have expressed his concerns about the recent militarisation of China in the East Sea while lauding Vietnam’s balanced and open external policy.
The Association of Southeast Asian Nations (ASEAN) always supports the early approval of an effective and legally-binding Code of Conduct in the East Sea (COC), the Foreign Ministry’s Spokeswoman Le Thi Thu Hang said at a regular press conference in Hanoi on August 3.
Deputy Prime Minister and Minister of Foreign Affairs Pham Binh Minh led a Vietnamese high-ranking delegation to attend the 9th Delhi Dialogue which opened in New Delhi, India on July 4.
