The sixth International Conference on East Sea with in-depthdiscussions seeking experts’ ideas for the East Sea issue concluded inthe central city of Da Nang on November 18.
Themed“East Sea: Cooperation for Regional Security and Development,” theevent saw nearly 40 speeches and garnered 80 opinions from academics andspecialists from Vietnam, Southeast Asian countries, the US, China,Taiwan (China), the Republic of Korea, Australia, India, the UK, France,Italy and Belgium.
Participants raised a concern that the East Sea is becoming a strategic competitive space for world powers.
However, some held that the complicated situation in the East Seawould be a chance for ASEAN and its partners to boost their positiverole in seeking solutions to the issue.
Manyexpressed their interest in Indonesian President J. Widodo’s initiativeon a “maritime axis” that is expected to see Indonesia’s greatercontribution to fostering cooperation at the sea.
Participants agreed that regional organisations, including the EuropeanUnion, should share their experience on the prevention and managementover territorial and maritime disputes in the region.
They also gave much space to clarify legal regulations applied to the200-nautical-mile exclusive economic zone and the continental shelf aswell as the rights of coastal states over the areas.
They underscored that all parties should refrain from conducting anyunilateral actions that could change the status quo in the East Sea.They stressed the need to strictly abide by regional agreements,including the Declaration on the Conduct of Parties in the East Sea(DOC).
Participants also pointed to the need toencourage cooperation and speed up the building of a regional legalframework based on international law, which would help maintain peace,stability, maritime and aviation security, safety and freedom.
They proposed that a code of conduct should be built to ensure theimplementation of international law in the East Sea, while specificrecommendations should be made to clarify Article 5 of the DOC.
Common rules applied for all armed forces and law enforcementauthorities at sea should also be specified, while a cooperationmechanism for non-traditional security issues should be set up, theysuggested.
They also highlighted the importance ofmaking the best use of information sharing channels, as well aspromoting partnership in managing maritime natural resources andprotecting and preserving the maritime environment.
During the two-day event, experts and academics also analysed factorsaffecting the East Sea issue and measures to build trust as well aspreventive diplomacy.
Concluding the conference,Ambassador Dang Dinh Quy, President of the Vietnam Academy of Diplomacyproposed the participants continue researching on the issues to help allparties concerned clearly understand their legal obligations in themaintenance of the status quo in the East Sea.-VNA
Themed“East Sea: Cooperation for Regional Security and Development,” theevent saw nearly 40 speeches and garnered 80 opinions from academics andspecialists from Vietnam, Southeast Asian countries, the US, China,Taiwan (China), the Republic of Korea, Australia, India, the UK, France,Italy and Belgium.
Participants raised a concern that the East Sea is becoming a strategic competitive space for world powers.
However, some held that the complicated situation in the East Seawould be a chance for ASEAN and its partners to boost their positiverole in seeking solutions to the issue.
Manyexpressed their interest in Indonesian President J. Widodo’s initiativeon a “maritime axis” that is expected to see Indonesia’s greatercontribution to fostering cooperation at the sea.
Participants agreed that regional organisations, including the EuropeanUnion, should share their experience on the prevention and managementover territorial and maritime disputes in the region.
They also gave much space to clarify legal regulations applied to the200-nautical-mile exclusive economic zone and the continental shelf aswell as the rights of coastal states over the areas.
They underscored that all parties should refrain from conducting anyunilateral actions that could change the status quo in the East Sea.They stressed the need to strictly abide by regional agreements,including the Declaration on the Conduct of Parties in the East Sea(DOC).
Participants also pointed to the need toencourage cooperation and speed up the building of a regional legalframework based on international law, which would help maintain peace,stability, maritime and aviation security, safety and freedom.
They proposed that a code of conduct should be built to ensure theimplementation of international law in the East Sea, while specificrecommendations should be made to clarify Article 5 of the DOC.
Common rules applied for all armed forces and law enforcementauthorities at sea should also be specified, while a cooperationmechanism for non-traditional security issues should be set up, theysuggested.
They also highlighted the importance ofmaking the best use of information sharing channels, as well aspromoting partnership in managing maritime natural resources andprotecting and preserving the maritime environment.
During the two-day event, experts and academics also analysed factorsaffecting the East Sea issue and measures to build trust as well aspreventive diplomacy.
Concluding the conference,Ambassador Dang Dinh Quy, President of the Vietnam Academy of Diplomacyproposed the participants continue researching on the issues to help allparties concerned clearly understand their legal obligations in themaintenance of the status quo in the East Sea.-VNA
