The Czech Republic does not back the use of force or the threat to use force to settle territorial disputes in the East Sea, an official has said.

Minister of Foreign Affairs of the Czech Republic Lubomir Zaoralek made the affirmation during a July 3 meeting with Vietnamese Ambassador to Czech Truong Manh Son in Prague capital.

Lubomir expressed his support for Vietnam’s consistent stance in solving tensions in the East Sea by peaceful measures on the basis of abiding by the 1982 UN Convention on the Law of the Sea (UNCLOS).

Ambassador Son briefed the host on the latest developments in the East Sea following China’s illegal placement of its Haiyang Shiyou-981 oil rig in Vietnam’s exclusive economic zone, stressing that China’s unreasonable move violates Vietnam’s sovereignty, sovereign right and jurisdiction, and at the same time seriously infringes Vietnam’s laws and international law.

China’s wrongful act also runs counter to the Declaration on the Conduct of Parties in the East Sea (DOC) signed between the country and ASEAN member nations, he said.

Earlier, in the annual meeting of the ASEAN Commission in Prague, ambassadors from the Philippines, Malaysia, Thailand and Indonesia also voiced support to Vietnam’s policy and efforts in resettling territorial disputes though peaceful dialogues, and opposition against the use of force to solve the issue.-VNA