Australia, US stress importance of ensuring freedoms in East Sea
Sydney (VNA) – Australia and the US
underlined the importance of countries’ ability to exercise their maritime
rights and freedoms in the South China Sea (called East Sea in Vietnam), consistent with the 1982 UN Convention on the Law of the Sea (UNCLOS), including freedom of navigation and overflight and other internationally lawful uses of the sea related to these freedoms.
The two countries made the point in the Australia-US Ministerial Consultations Joint Statement, which was issued after US Secretary of State
Antony Blinken and Secretary of Defense Lloyd Austin hosted Minister for
Foreign Affairs, Minister for Women Marise Payne and Minister for Defence
Peter Dutton of Australia in Washington D.C. on September 16 for the 31st
Australia-US Ministerial Consultations (AUSMIN 2021).
Adherence to international law is essential for regional
and international stability and prosperity, it stressed.
The officials conveyed concern regarding China’s
expansive maritime claims in the South China Sea that are without legal basis.
They called on China to implement relevant domestic legislation, including the
Maritime Traffic Safety Law, in a manner consistent with UNCLOS, and reiterated
that the 2016 Arbitral Award is final and legally binding on the parties.
They also reiterated their strong opposition to the militarization
of disputed features and other destabilizing actions, including the dangerous
use of coast guard and maritime militia, and efforts to disrupt other
countries’ offshore resource exploitation activities./.