Australia, Singapore underline navigation freedom in East Sea

Sydney (VNA) – Australia and Singapore have reiterated their commitment to the rights of states to freedom of navigation and overflight in the East Sea, amidst rising tension in the region caused by China’s unilateral acts.

Speaking after the joint meeting of the two countries’ ministers of foreign affairs, national defence and commerce in Sydney, Australian foreign minister Julie Bishop and her Singaporean counterpart Vivian Balakrishnan affirmed that ships and aircraft of Australia and Singapore reserve the right to continue to sail and fly through the waters, via which more than 6.7 trillion AUD (around 5 trillion USD) worth of goods pass each year.

Singapore's Foreign Minister Vivian Balakrishnan said that though Singapore was a tiny city state, its trade was three times its GDP, and hence security of passage through the East Sea was also "essential".

He underlined the importance of the East Sea to both Australia and Singapore, because so much of their trade flows through the waters.-VNA