Brussels (VNA) – The Gabriel Péri Foundation ofFrance held an international seminar on the East Sea at the European Parliamentin Brussels, Belgium, on November 21.

The event, the third of its kind held by the foundation,gathered lawyers, professors and diplomats from the UK, Belgium, Germany,Italy, the US, France and Switzerland who delivered speeches on the currentgeo-politic situation, issues related to relevant international laws and parties’conduct in the East Sea and several policy suggestions for the EU.

Many said that there are several changes in the East Sea inrecent times, including fishing-related policies, environmental protection, andconstruction which alters the status quo at the sea.

They all agreed that international law must be a foundationfor all solutions.

Prof. Erik Franckx from the Free University of Brusselsmentioned China’s rejection of the Permanent Court of Arbitration (PCA)’sruling on the East Sea while many others welcomed the decision.

He said he hopes that parties involved will hold bilateraldialogues to seek a solution accepted by all, regardless of big or smallcountries.

To restore order in the East Sea, the parties should abideby international law, particularly Article 121 in the United Nations Conventionon the Law of the Sea 1982, he suggested, adding that the PCA ruling is usefulto all parties and holds an important role.

Prof. James Borton from the Center for Asian Studies underthe US’s University of South Carolina affirmed that the construction ofartificial islands has caused a serious impact on the reproduction of fishsources.

His research showed that the number of fish species reducedby half, while reserves fell by 70-95 percent compared with those in the early1960s.

He proposed combining policy and science to solve existingissues in the East Sea such as the establishment of a “committee” gatheringmaritime scientists in the region. He also suggested mapping out and definingsea areas in order to protect the eco-system.

Meanwhile, Ambassador Christian Lechervy, PermanentSecretary for the Pacific at the French Foreign Ministry, stressed the need tomaintain regular dialogues between the EU and Asia, between the EU and ASEAN,and ASEAN member states, and between the European Parliament and the ASEANInter-Parliamentary Assembly.

The stability and economic growth in the East Sea regionwill contribute to the world’s economic development, which is the reasonpushing the EU to help maintain stability at the strategic sea.

The tribunal declared on July 12, 2016, that China’s claimto “historic rights” over waters within its “nine-dash line” is contrary to theUNCLOS.

It said China has caused permanent and irreparable harm to the coral reefecosystem at the Spratly (Truong Sa) archipelago, and that it also has nohistoric title over waters of the South China Sea.

The Hague Tribunal also finds no legal basis for China to claim historic rightsto resources within the nine-dash line, and that China has interfered withtraditional Philippine fishing rights at Scarborough Shoal.

However, China completely rejected the PCA’s ruling, and maintained its stancethat disputes between countries with overlapped sovereign claims in the EastSea need to be solved bilaterally.

The East Sea provides one of the most important maritimelanes in the globe and benefits many countries. Therefore, maintaining peace,stability, navigation and over flight security, safety, and freedom in the seaarea is the top priority. The parties concerned should display theirresponsibility in abiding by international law, specifically upholding thesupremacy of the rule of law in the East Sea. Every extreme reaction oractivities defying international law will fuel tensions and complicate thesituation.

In recent years, the East Sea issue has attracted much attention from theinternational community. Although Europe and the East Sea are located over9,000km apart, the two regions have mutual dependence in terms of economy,politics, and security.

Therefore, escalated tensions in the East Sea may hurt Europe’s interests andthreaten stability and prosperity in the world.-VNA