Academics and experts at the sixth international workshop on the EastSea called upon all parties concerned to refrain from implementingunilateral policies that could alter the status quo in the region.
Duringthe second day of the two-day symposium in the central city of Da Nangon November 18, participants discussed the East Sea issue ininternational relations, claims to the East Sea and disputes, andinternational legal regulations on territory, waters and the sky.
Manyacademics shared the view that due to its strategic importance the EastSea had become an indirect strategic competitive arena for globalpowers.
Meanwhile, others said the complicated developmentin the East Sea opened up opportunities for ASEAN member states andtheir partners inside and outside the region to play a more active rolein helping the parties involved find solutions to the issue.
Theparticipants emphasised that building an international law-based legalorder for the East Sea indicated a long-term commitment requiringinnovative solutions from all sides, both inside and outside the region,who share a common interest in maintaining peace, stability, andmaritime security, safety and freedom.
Many proposedestablishing new management mechanisms to deal with the crisis at sea.Furthermore, they suggested encouraging all parties concerned to haveflexible cooperative attitudes and to employ widely-recognisedinternational laws to handle differences and disputes in the East Sea.
Theystressed that building large-scale man-made islands with a view toturning underground shoals and reefs into military bases in the EastSea, as well as the establishment of air defence identification zones,went against international law. These actions would undermine politicaltrust and could complicate the situation.
The mostpractical solution was to devise a code of conduct to ensure the partiesconcerned act in compliance with international law and did not escalatedisputes in the East Sea, the participants said.
Entitled"East Sea: Cooperation for Regional Security and Development," thesymposium is part of efforts to exchange opinions and receive input fromexperts on the East Sea issue./.
Duringthe second day of the two-day symposium in the central city of Da Nangon November 18, participants discussed the East Sea issue ininternational relations, claims to the East Sea and disputes, andinternational legal regulations on territory, waters and the sky.
Manyacademics shared the view that due to its strategic importance the EastSea had become an indirect strategic competitive arena for globalpowers.
Meanwhile, others said the complicated developmentin the East Sea opened up opportunities for ASEAN member states andtheir partners inside and outside the region to play a more active rolein helping the parties involved find solutions to the issue.
Theparticipants emphasised that building an international law-based legalorder for the East Sea indicated a long-term commitment requiringinnovative solutions from all sides, both inside and outside the region,who share a common interest in maintaining peace, stability, andmaritime security, safety and freedom.
Many proposedestablishing new management mechanisms to deal with the crisis at sea.Furthermore, they suggested encouraging all parties concerned to haveflexible cooperative attitudes and to employ widely-recognisedinternational laws to handle differences and disputes in the East Sea.
Theystressed that building large-scale man-made islands with a view toturning underground shoals and reefs into military bases in the EastSea, as well as the establishment of air defence identification zones,went against international law. These actions would undermine politicaltrust and could complicate the situation.
The mostpractical solution was to devise a code of conduct to ensure the partiesconcerned act in compliance with international law and did not escalatedisputes in the East Sea, the participants said.
Entitled"East Sea: Cooperation for Regional Security and Development," thesymposium is part of efforts to exchange opinions and receive input fromexperts on the East Sea issue./.
