Hanoi (VNA) – China’s maritime claims are not validunder international law, according to the Joint Statement on Australia-USMinisterial Consultations (AUSMIN) 2020 released on July 28.
The two countries’ secretaries and ministers expressedserious concerns over recent coercive and destabilising actions across theIndo-Pacific, the joint statement says.
In line with the 2016 decision of the Arbitral Tribunal, thetwo sides affirmed that Beijing’s maritime claims are not valid under internationallaw and that China cannot assert maritime claims in the East Sea (internationally called South China Sea) based on the “nine-dash line”, “historic rights”, orentire island groups in the waters, which are incompatible with the UnitedNations Convention on the Law of the Sea (UNCLOS).
They noted that the 2016 Arbitral Award is final and bindingon both parties, and emphasised that all claims in the sea must bemade and resolved in accordance with international law.
They also expressed their support for the rights ofclaimants to lawfully exploit offshore resources, including in relation tolong-standing oil and gas projects as well as fisheries in the waters,free from harassment and coercion.
They welcomed the recent ASEAN Leaders statement that a Code of Conduct (COC) in the sea should be consistent with UNCLOS, andemphasised that any Code should not prejudice the rights or interests of statesunder international law or undermine existing regional architecture, and shouldstrengthen the commitment of parties not to engage in actions that complicateor escalate disputes, notably militarisation of disputed features.
The US and Australia also reaffirmed their strong supportfor ASEAN, ASEAN-led regional architecture, and ASEAN’s Outlook on theIndo-Pacific, and applauded Vietnam, as the current ASEAN Chair, for its leadershipof ASEAN in combating the COVID-19 pandemic.
They reaffirmed that the Indo-Pacific is the focus of their alliance and that both countries are working side-by-side, including withASEAN, India, Japan, the Republic of Korea, and Five Eyes partners, tostrengthen their networked structure of alliances and partnerships to maintaina region that is secure, prosperous, inclusive, and rules-based.
They underscored the role of the East Asia Summit as theregion's premier leaders-led forum for addressing political and securitychallenges. They welcomed and acknowledged the role of APEC, as the premiereconomic forum in the region, in strengthening the region’s resilience tofuture economic shocks and addressing health-related threats, particularlyinfectious diseases, to trade and investment in the region./.
The two countries’ secretaries and ministers expressedserious concerns over recent coercive and destabilising actions across theIndo-Pacific, the joint statement says.
In line with the 2016 decision of the Arbitral Tribunal, thetwo sides affirmed that Beijing’s maritime claims are not valid under internationallaw and that China cannot assert maritime claims in the East Sea (internationally called South China Sea) based on the “nine-dash line”, “historic rights”, orentire island groups in the waters, which are incompatible with the UnitedNations Convention on the Law of the Sea (UNCLOS).
They noted that the 2016 Arbitral Award is final and bindingon both parties, and emphasised that all claims in the sea must bemade and resolved in accordance with international law.
They also expressed their support for the rights ofclaimants to lawfully exploit offshore resources, including in relation tolong-standing oil and gas projects as well as fisheries in the waters,free from harassment and coercion.
They welcomed the recent ASEAN Leaders statement that a Code of Conduct (COC) in the sea should be consistent with UNCLOS, andemphasised that any Code should not prejudice the rights or interests of statesunder international law or undermine existing regional architecture, and shouldstrengthen the commitment of parties not to engage in actions that complicateor escalate disputes, notably militarisation of disputed features.
The US and Australia also reaffirmed their strong supportfor ASEAN, ASEAN-led regional architecture, and ASEAN’s Outlook on theIndo-Pacific, and applauded Vietnam, as the current ASEAN Chair, for its leadershipof ASEAN in combating the COVID-19 pandemic.
They reaffirmed that the Indo-Pacific is the focus of their alliance and that both countries are working side-by-side, including withASEAN, India, Japan, the Republic of Korea, and Five Eyes partners, tostrengthen their networked structure of alliances and partnerships to maintaina region that is secure, prosperous, inclusive, and rules-based.
They underscored the role of the East Asia Summit as theregion's premier leaders-led forum for addressing political and securitychallenges. They welcomed and acknowledged the role of APEC, as the premiereconomic forum in the region, in strengthening the region’s resilience tofuture economic shocks and addressing health-related threats, particularlyinfectious diseases, to trade and investment in the region./.
VNA
