Chinese warships operating in the East Sea (Source: AP) Hanoi (VNA) – France, Germany andthe UK on August 29 released a joint statement expressing their concern about the situation in the South China Sea (known asEast Sea in Vietnam) which they said could lead to insecurity and instabilityin the region.
As State parties of the United Nations Convention on theLaw of the Sea (UNCLOS), France, Germany, and the UK underlined their interestin the universal application of the Convention which sets out the comprehensivelegal framework within which all activities in the oceans and seas including inthe East Sea must be carried out and which provides the basis for national,regional and global co-operation in the maritime domain.
They recalled in this regard the Arbitration Award renderedunder UNCLOS on July 12, 2016.
The three countries welcomed the on-going negotiationsbetween the ASEAN member States and China in view of achieving a rules-based,cooperative and effective Code of Conduct consistent with UNCLOS in the EastSea and encourage progress towards its early conclusion.
They called on all coastal States of the East Sea to takesteps and measures that reduce tensions and contribute to maintaining andpromoting peace, security, stability and safety in the region, including asregards the rights of coastal States in their waters and the freedom and rightsof navigation in and overflight above the East Sea.
The same day, India also affirmed that the country firmly stands forthe freedom of navigation and over-flight, and unimpeded lawful commerce, inthe international waters, in accordance with international laws, notablyUNCLOS.
Indian Foreign Ministry’s Spokesperson Raveesh Kumar wasquoted by local media as saying at a press conference on August 29 that theEast Sea ispart of the global commons, adding that India, therefore, has an abidinginterest in the peace and stability in the region.
Indiabelieves that any difference must be resolved peacefully by respecting thelegal and diplomatic processes, and without resorting to threat or use offorce, he said.-VNA
