Vietnamese coast guards perform duties in Truong Sa Lon Island of the country's Truong Sa archipelago (Photo: VNA) Sydney (VNA) –Members of the 1982 United Nations Convention on the Law of the Sea (UNCLOS)must adhere to this convention and object to violations of the document, anAustralian expert has said while talking about China’s ongoing infringement uponVietnam’s waters.
China has been deploying its survey ship group HaiyangDizhi 8 to Tu Chinh reef (internationally known as Vanguard Bank) in Vietnam’sexclusive economic zone, escalating tensions in the East Sea.
Dr. Bec Strating, a lecturer in politics andinternational relations in the Department of Politics and Philosophy at LaTrobe University of Australia, said the 1982 UNCLOS is of special importance tocoastal Southeast Asian countries as it provides them with a legal framework onthe rights on seafood and energy resource exploitation, as well as many otherrights.
Therefore, countries must comply with the 1982UNCLOS and object to violations of this document, she said.
According to the lecturer, the East Sea is animportant trade route for many countries, so in all circumstances, allcountries must support and protect the principles of free trade and navigation.
Strating also highly valued measures thatVietnam has been taking to safeguard the sovereignty, sovereign right andjurisdiction in its exclusive economic zone and continental shelf, and toensure partnerships with the countries that want to maintain marine rules-basedorder.
Vietnam has also played an important role innegotiations on a code of conduct of parties in the East Sea (COC), sheadded.-VNA
VNA
