German expert emphasises legal basis of PCA’s ruling on East Sea disputes
Dr Gerhard Will, a German expert on the East Sea, stressed that the Permanent Court of Arbitration (PCA)’s ruling on the Philippines’ lawsuit against China holds a solid legal basis and high value in the settlement of disputes in the East Sea.
Dozens of fishing vessels dock in the shelter area of Vietnam's Da Tay A Reef (Photo: VNA)
Berlin (VNA)– Dr Gerhard Will, a German expert on the East Sea, stressed that the PermanentCourt of Arbitration (PCA)’s ruling on the Philippines’ lawsuit against China holdsa solid legal basis and high value in the settlement of disputes in the EastSea.
In an interview withthe Vietnam News Agency’s correspondent, the expert said that the PCA’s ruling,issued on July 12, 2016, strongly refuted China’s groundless claims in the EastSea.
He believed that theverdict clarifies various matters in disputes in the East Sea, and has beenrecognised by a majority of the international community. To prevent ongoingviolations in the East Sea, the international community needs to stronglysupport the ruling and asked the violator to comply with it.
Regarding the EuropeanUnion (EU)’s viewpoint on disputes in the East Sea, Will said that the EU andits leading members consider Indo-Pacific an important region in terms ofeconomy, and pay due attention to regional politics and security.
Spokeswoman of the VietnameseMinistry of Foreign Affairs Le Thi Thu Hang on July 12 affirmed that Vietnam’sstance on the settlement of disputes in the East Sea is clear and consistent.
Vietnam always backsthe settlement of disputes regarding sovereignty, sovereign rights andjurisdiction in the East Sea through diplomatic and legal processes, without usingforce or threatening to use force, and by peaceful solutions and measures, inaccordance with the UN Charter and the 1982 UN Convention on the Law of the Sea(UNCLOS).
As a UNCLOS signatoryand a coastal nation to the East Sea, Vietnam called on all concerned partiesto respect and fully realise their legal obligations as stipulated in theconvention, cooperate and actively and pragmatically contribute to maintainingpeace, stability, security, safety and freedom of navigation and aviation, andorder in the East Sea in line with international law, Hang said./.
The international community has long benefited from the rules-based maritime order, where international law, as reflected in the 1982 UN Convention on the Law of the Sea (UNCLOS), sets out the legal framework for all activities in the oceans and seas, US Secretary of State Antony Blinken has said.
Australian Minister for Foreign Affairs Marise Payne has affirmed Australia’s position which is guided by principled support for international law and the 1982 United Nations Convention on the Law of the Sea (UNCLOS).
The international community has continuously called on parties concerned to follow international practices and rules, especially the 1982 United Nations Convention on the Law of the Sea (UNCLOS) amid the complicated developments in the East Sea.
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Dozens of fishing vessels dock in the shelter area of Vietnam's Da Tay A Reef (Photo: VNA) 
